ANN/THE STAR – Utilising social media has become an integral means of sharing our daily experiences and staying connected with friends and family. However, it prompts us to ponder the extent to which we are willing to jeopardise our well-being for the sake of online engagement.
A recent study, titled Death By Instagram Fueled Selfies: A Survey Of 1,233 Instagram Users conducted by Matthew H Nash and his team at The Swift Test in 2023, sheds light on the alarming trend of individuals being inclined to undertake risky actions in pursuit of social media validation.
Lead researcher Matthew H Nash emphasised the existence of a darker side to social media, where perilous trends are becoming increasingly prevalent. Nash warned, “Dangerous behaviours are on the rise within the realm of social media.”
The study’s findings are particularly concerning, revealing that a noteworthy 20 per cent of Instagram users with more than 1,000 followers have either experienced injuries themselves or personally know someone who has been harmed or even lost their life while capturing photos for Instagram.
In the study, 1,233 active Instagram users located in the United States (US) aged 18 to 40 were surveyed to gain insight on how users interact with social media and the connection between engagement and risky behaviour, he explained.
While our survey was specific to the Instagram app, it’s reasonable to draw conclusions about other social media sites such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, and more when discussing high-risk behaviour and social media validation, he said.
In the process of conducting this survey, we also compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date database of 399 selfie deaths and 76 injuries across 49 countries worldwide (Global Death by Selfie Database and Statistics), he added. These included death through falls, accidents (train, car), lightning, electrocution, firearms, drowning, wild animals, and even “murder over a selfie” (attacked and killed for taking a selfie with a stranger).
KEY FINDINGS
The study revealed that of the Instagram users surveyed, 10 per cent have been injured or personally know someone who has been injured or died while taking a picture for Instagram or other social media, 10 per cent are willing to risk their safety while taking a photo of themselves or someone else if it meant a guaranteed increase in Instagram followers, and 13 per cent would stand next to the edge of a cliff if it meant an increase in followers.
Also, those who were “regulars” on social media (posted selfies at least once a week or more), were 220 per cent more likely to put themselves at risk for a guaranteed increase in Instagram followers.
Participants were asked, “Have you ever gotten injured while taking a photo for Instagram or other social media?” and “Do you know someone personally who has gotten injured or died while taking a photo for Instagram or other social media?”
It was discovered that “one in 10 have been injured or knows someone personally who has been injured or died while taking pictures for social media”.
This percentage rose dramatically for those who have over 1,000 followers: 20 per cent of Instagram users with over a thousand followers know someone who has been injured or died or has personally been injured themselves while taking selfies for social media, he highlighted. Age and gender also seem to play a factor.
Around 14.5 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds know someone who has died or been injured or has been injured themselves for Instagram. 11.3 per cent of men across all demographics know someone who has died or been injured, compared to 8.8 per cent of women.
Age is not a surprising factor, as adolescents are historically prone to risky behaviour compared to those who are older, and the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and dangerous behaviour is currently being evaluated by the psychiatric and scientific community, he said.
Survey participants were asked, “How likely are you to stand near the edge of a cliff for a photo of yourself or someone else if it meant you would be guaranteed to double your current number of Instagram followers within a week of posting?”
Deaths related to falling off of cliffs and other scenic landmarks are happening more often as a result of risky behaviour associated with social media.
Of the participants surveyed, an average of 13 per cent indicated that they were likely or very likely to stand on the edge of a cliff to increase their Instagram followers.
Instagram users that posted selfies at least once a week were 2.3 times more likely than average to engage in this behaviour. About 28 per cent of women with over a thousand Instagram followers and 26 per cent of men with over a thousand followers indicated that they would stand next to a cliff for a photo, which are both over twice as likely as the average participant, he said.
The majority of people surveyed said they “feel a rush when receiving more likes than average on Instagram photos”.
Survey participants were asked: “How much do you agree or disagree with the statement ‘I feel a rush when I receive more likes than average on my Instagram photos’?”
Around 61 per cent of participants said they agree or strongly agree with this, which isn’t surprising because social media is engineered to increase dopamine production, said Nash.
STAYING SAFE
Social media is increasingly important as a means to keep in touch (with friends and family as well as current trends), market products and services, and create awareness on important issues but we need to practise safety when creating content or posting this content online.
“What’s considered ‘instagrammable’ has shifted dramatically from brunch with friends and beautiful sunsets to sometimes dangerous stunts and trends that keep young people interested but might not be safe. And while Instagram is often considered the originator of potentially risky behaviour for social media, other apps such as Snapchat, Reddit and TikTok have also been featuring risky stunts and trends,” said Nash.
He emphasised that there are ways to “take the perfect picture and stay alive to post it”. – Ming Teoh
