Selfies are generally seen as harmless fun. In general, the worst thing that happens while a selfie is taken is that someone in the photo blinks at the wrong time. Parents need to be aware that sometimes selfies can be dangerous.
Unfortunately, selfies have become a way that head lice is spread. All it takes is for one person in the selfie to be unaware that they have head lice. Head-to-head contact, even for a small amount of time, is enough for head lice to spread from one person to another.
The CDC estimates that 6 million to 12 million head lice infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age.
The British Association of Dermatologists did a study involving 202 children. 104 of them (51.4%) owned a smartphone or tablet; 82 (40.5%) were using a device for selfies. Of the 98 kids who did not own or use a tablet or smartphone, 29 (29.5%) caught head lice, compared to 65 of the 104 (62.5%) of kids who did own or use a smartphone or tablet.
Parents also need to be aware that selfies can result in severe injury or death. A study in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care found that from October 2011 to November 2017, there had been 259 deaths while taking selfies in 137 incidents. The mean age of the selfie taker was 22.94 years.
About 72% of the total deaths occurred in males and 25.5% in females. The topmost reasons for death include: drowning, transport, and fall. The number of deaths in females is less due to risky behavior than non-risky behavior, while it is approximately three times that in males.
Parents should have a conversation with their child, teen, or college student about selfies. Help them understand that they should not risk their lives in an effort to take an exciting selfie photo.
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* Why Kids and Smartphones Don’t Mix
* Social Media was not Designed for Tweens
* Tips for Keeping Kids Safe on Facebook