Ireland Proposes Safety Precautions to Prevent Selfie Deaths at Tourist Attractions
Achieving a supreme quality Instagram account is often taken to a dangerous degree, especially at tourist destinations. Several deaths have occurred in the pursuit of the perfect selfie, and a recent incident in Ireland has led to a proposal to combat the issue: "selfie seats."
The proposal came from Irish Minister of State Jim Daley, who thought that a designated seating area for photography would not only be a way to prevent danger, but would also serve as an "innovative marketing tool" involving hashtags to promote the beauty of Ireland. Daley allegedly got the idea from one of his constituents.
"Families and individuals love taking photographs of themselves in areas of natural beauty," Daley told Irish Mirror, explaining the concept. "But often it is almost impossible to find a steady location or to know where the best shot is."
Daley also sees it as a way to make tourist endeavors easier. "Tourists, being time sensitive, like to know where to go and what to do," said Daley. "They also like clear shots rather than grainy images on their social media and Instagram."
The idea of introducing "selfie seats" comes following the tragic death of young Indian student Anand Goel. He fell to his death at The Cliffs of Moher after losing his footing while trying to take photos of himself.
This incident wasn't the first of its kind. After more than 250 people died while taking selfies, medical researchers began calling for "no-selfie zones," essentially the opposite of Daley's approach. Some places, like Hawaii, are resorting to arresting trespassing tourists near volcanos to discourage risky and potentially fatal behavior.
H/T: Irish Mirror