Study Shows 10 Out 100 People Likely To Risk Their Safety To Gain Likes, Followers On Instagram

• The world of social media is known for its ability to connect individuals across the globe, but a recent study reveals a disconcerting trend
• Some Instagram users are willing to compromise their safety for the sake of likes and followers
• This study, which surveyed 1,233 active Instagram users aged 18 to 40, brings to light the potentially hazardous consequences of the quest for online validation
• While the focus of the study was on Instagram, its implications resonate with users across various platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat

In a world increasingly dominated by social media platforms like Instagram, a recent study has highlighted a troubling phenomenon: individuals willing to compromise their safety to amass likes and followers on their posts.

Is it worth risking injuries?

The study, conducted by researchers who surveyed 1,233 active Instagram users aged 18 to 40, raised concerns about the impact of social media validation on risky behaviours.

The survey, published on The Swiftest, while focused on Instagram, has implications for other social media sites, including TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat.

"For this study, we surveyed 1,233 active Instagram users located in the United States aged 18 to 40. The goal was to get insight into how users interact with social media and the connection between engagement and risky behaviors," reads the survey

Researchers delved into the connection between engagement and dangerous activities, aiming to understand whether the quest for online validation is turning the world into a more perilous place.

Of those surveyed, a staggering 10% reported either personal injuries or knowing someone who had been injured or died while attempting to capture the perfect photo for Instagram or other social media platforms.

Interestingly, the study highlighted a correlation between the frequency of posting selfies and the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviour for likes.

Participants who posted selfies at least once a week were over 220% more prone to taking dangerous actions to guarantee an increase in Instagram followers.

Gender also played a role in these trends

"Those who indicated that they post a selfie at least once a week or more were over 220% more likely than average to put themselves at risk for a guaranteed increase in Instagram followers," read the report.

Users with a substantial follower count were particularly prone to such behaviour.

Those with over 1,000 followers were 2.2 times more likely to put themselves in risky situations for a chance to double their followers.

The same demographic was twice as likely to stand near cliff edges for that coveted 'perfect shot'.

Women with over 1,000 followers were the most likely to have spent money on fake followers and were significantly more inclined to engage in hazardous behaviour for the sake of increasing their follower count.

One of the most concerning findings was that 43% of participants indicated a willingness to change their careers if it meant earning a full-time income as an "Instagram Influencer."

This statistic reflects the substantial impact social media has had on aspirations and career choices.

The study's authors suggest that the findings underscore the need for increased awareness about the potential dangers of seeking validation online, and they call for the implementation of safety measures to address this issue.

Will the rise of No Selfie Zones help?

The rise of No Selfie Zones and other safeguards are being advocated by academics and safety professionals to curb the escalating risk-taking behaviour tied to social media.

Mathew Nash, one of the prolific researchers, data analyst, and writer, told TUKO.co.ke that for these measures are being implemented effectively, tourist zones that are prone to risks should be marked as No Selfie Zone.

"We believe that any tourist area that is a known selfie risk, such as cliff edges, should have declared "no selfie zones" and designated safe selfie areas," Nash told TUKO.co.ke.

"This certainly would help warn people and provide a safe solution which would in turn lower the risk of selfie deaths," he added.

Nash further pointed out that as a team of researchers, they were able to compile a database for Global Selfie Death Database to showcase how serious the problem was in modern society.

"We noticed that Wikipedia has a database of selfie deaths, but it was very incomplete, missing scores of incidences," said the researcher.

"We wanted to get a complete picture of selfie deaths as reported by the global media so that people can see how this has become a serious problem in our modern society. Knowing what the problem is, allows for solutions to be made to fix those problems," he added.

Stunt star Remi Lucidi falls to death

The study report was released after renowned French daredevil and Instagram sensation Remi Lucidi, famously known as Remi Enigma, died.

Remi lost his life after a fatal fall from the 68th floor of the Tregunter Tower in Hong Kong. The 30-year-old thrill-seeker's death has left his fans and followers in shock and mourning.

According to reports by The South China Morning Post, Lucidi gained unauthorized access to the towering skyscraper by convincing a security guard that he was visiting a friend on the 40th floor.

Undeterred by security, he clandestinely made his way to the building's pinnacle. The fearless extreme sports enthusiast captured the world's attention with his awe-inspiring stunts and breathtaking photographs on social media.