14 DAY TRIAL // Sharks are some of the world's most feared predators. They're massive, they have razor-sharp teeth, and they're masters of stealth. Plainly put, they make excellent killers.
All the same, it looks like more people have died this year taking pictures of themselves than attacked by sharks. Yup, it would seem that taking selfies is a rather dangerous endeavor.
The figures
Shark Attack Survivors, a website documenting human-shark interactions across the globe, says a total of 8 people have been killed by such ocean dwellers since the beginning of the year until now.
In turn, Mashable says that, since January 1 until present day, a total of 12 people have died while attempting to take the perfect selfie.
Some fell off cliffs, others accidentally shot themselves dead while attempting selfies with guns. The most recent victim was a Japanese man who fell down the stairs at India's Taj Mahal, phone in his hand.
Then, there are also reports of people who managed to get themselves electrocuted while trying to take pictures of themselves sitting on train cars.
Just weeks ago, in August, a man was gored and bled to death when, preoccupied with taking a selfie, he lost focus during a bull running in Spain.
Besides, there are stories of people who got into serious car accidents while trying to take selfies behind the wheel and who ended up dead.
There may be others
Mashable might have counted a total of 12 people killed by selfies so far this year, but when you think about it, the actual death toll might actually be higher.
The selfie deaths that we know of are the ones that made it on the news. But not everything that happens around the world makes it on the news, does it? Not unless spectacular or weird enough to be headlines-worthy.
So, yes, it might be that more than 12 people have, in fact, died taking selfies since the start of the year. Should we be worried? Perhaps.
