The picture, distributed on mass media and on social networks contained several pictures in the form of traffic signs, describing the typical situations in which taking a selfie could be unsafe.
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“We hope that adults, teenagers and children in all Russian regions will support our campaign”, the statement said, inviting everyone to design their own cautionary pictogram and submit it to the Interior Ministry.
A ministry official stated that the ministry is concerned by the growing number of injuries happening “during attempts to take a unique selfie”. In May, a 21-year-old woman survived accidentally shooting herself in the head while posing for a selfie with a gun in Moscow. The cause of her fall appears to have been a broken fence, which she leaned on when taking the photo.
“Before you take a selfie, make sure you’re in a safe place and nothing is endangering your life”, the Interior Ministry said in a statement published Tuesday on its website, together with the leaflet.
Russian police say that at least 10 people have been killed and 100 have been injured while taking selfies in 2015. “The problem really exists and leads to very unfortunate consequences”.
These already seemed like bad selfie ideas, but now the Russian government has confirmed it.
Included in the campaign is a series of cartoon warning signs that depict risky scenarios in which someone might take a selfie.
It includes images shot by Russia’s youth subculture of “roofers” – who illicitly sneak into high-rise buildings and snap themselves on the top.
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“Before taking a selfie, everyone should think about the fact that racing after a high number of “likes” could lead someone on a journey to death and his last extreme photo could turn out to be posthumous”, Ms Alexeyeva stressed.
