Slippery Selfies: Putting Lives at Risk

The Growing Concern

As social media influencers post more and more content in dangerous places, an increasing number of tourists are losing their lives. Early this year, tragedy struck one of Australia’s natural attractions and social media hotspots. A 20-year-old died after jumping from a ledge at the Crystal Cascades waterfall, a secluded freshwater swimming spot near Cairns in north Queensland. Despite signed warnings, the Japanese man ventured into a no-swim zone and failed to resurface. Police divers later recovered his body.

The Pattern of Risky Behaviors

Sites like Crystal Cascades have seen an explosion in tourist numbers, fuelled by their aesthetic infamy on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. The pursuit of the perfect photo or video often leads to ignorance or disregard of safety warnings, with visitors unaware of the inherent risks in such environments. Across the globe, risky tourist behaviors have become a growing concern. Data from Australian researchers at the University of New South Wales Sydney (UNSW) shows that India has the highest burden of selfie- and social media-related injury and death.

The Charm of Influencers

Social media platforms, influencers, and the quest for the perfect photo play a significant role in shaping these behaviors. Straddling the line between educators and entertainers, influencers have a unique power to either promote safety or inadvertently encourage risk-taking. While many aim to showcase the beauty of nature responsibly, others push the boundaries for more engagement, often overlooking potential dangers. Indeed, travel influencers interviewed for an upcoming research paper have reported they see themselves as “entertainers, not educators”.

The Trouble with Social Media-Related Harm

The trouble with social media-related harm in the real world is that no stakeholder wants to be held accountable. Social media companies don’t take responsibility for content that can lead to harm; influencers see themselves as mere performers. Meanwhile, users who imitate behaviors seen online view themselves as victims when something goes wrong; while the media likes to put the blame on these victims.

What Can Be Done?

Social media-driven behavior is highly motivated by social norms and the need for peer approval. Collaborating with influencers on risk messaging may be a step in the right direction, but influencers may not see a benefit to providing this type of content if it doesn’t improve their engagements. Land managers have a responsibility to protect people on their property, such as national parks, but there is only so much they can do with warning signs, barriers, websites, and legacy methods of communication. For social media-driven tourists, this may not be enough.

Media reports of risky tourist injuries and deaths since 2014, some of which involve several people. (360info pic)

Between 2016 and 2019, nine people died at the Figure Eight Pools south of Sydney. (Wikipedia pic)

Conclusion

Slippery selfies are putting lives at risk, and it’s essential to acknowledge the role social media plays in shaping these behaviors. Influencers, social media companies, and land managers must work together to promote safety and responsibility. Personal responsibility and the tacit acknowledgement that actions have consequences are also crucial. People need the tools to make educated and informed decisions about their behavior in the outdoors, so they can enjoy themselves and get home safely.

FAQs

Q: What is the main cause of social media-related injuries and deaths?
A: The main cause is the pursuit of the perfect photo or video, often leading to ignorance or disregard of safety warnings.

Q: Which country has the highest burden of selfie- and social media-related injury and death?
A: India has the highest burden, according to data from Australian researchers at the University of New South Wales Sydney (UNSW).

Q: What role do influencers play in shaping these behaviors?
A: Influencers have a unique power to either promote safety or inadvertently encourage risk-taking, often pushing the boundaries for more engagement.

Q: What can be done to address this issue?
A: Collaborating with influencers on risk messaging, promoting personal responsibility, and acknowledging that actions have consequences are crucial steps in addressing this issue.