13 Jul Exposing The Reality Behind Some Of Social Media’s Most Dangerous Pictures

These days, people will do almost anything for a well-received selfie. Once they click post on social media, they can finally sit back and relax as the likes roll in, each one inflating their ego a little further. But like many things in life, there’s a downside to selfie-taking, and needless to say, when people go to extreme lengths to get the perfect profile picture things often go wrong, with selfies claiming more lives than shark attacks in 2015.

Yes, in 2018, your camera phone poses a bigger threat to your wellbeing than Jaws. So if you’re out on the open ocean and hear two notes that send a shiver down your spine, you’ll actually be in greater danger (sort of) if they come from your cell phone than a shark. Sorry Jaws.

To discover the stories of seven people who lost their lives for a selfie, check out the video below: 

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Thankfully, although we live in the age of extreme selfie-taking, we also live in the age of photoshop, which means that all is often not what it seems in even the most enviable of snaps. In fact, sometimes all you need to wow your family and friends on social media is the right angle. So, without further ado, here’s what some extreme selfie hotspots really look like (spoiler alert: almost none of them are as cool as they look).

1. Pedra do Telégrafo, Brazil

Despite looking like a cliff edge, this is actually a small rock called Pedra do Telégrafo and it is situated a short distance from Rio de Janeiro. Vistors are treated to a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean, and if they take a picture from a right angle, they can look like the ultimate thrill seekers.

Despite what’s shown in these pictures, there’s actually no more than a few feet between these dangling tourists and the ground. Although, judging from this young boy’s face, he certainly still feels like he’s in a vulnerable position – even if his dad is finding the whole thing hilarious.

2. Pedra da Gávea, Brazil

Next up is Pedra da Gávea in Brazil. It’s a rock that’s a whopping 2,762 ft in the air, however, there is a spot where, with the right angle, it can look like you are dangling over the ocean. That being said, extreme caution should be taken even if you’re trying to get a fake extreme selfie.

That’s why it’s recommended that you take precautions, such as wearing a harness, and you can edit them out later with photoshop. Voilà!

The safest way to snap a picture on Pedra da Gávea is to sit on the rock, pictured above. If you’ve got no experience of dangling by your hands, don’t do it! While extreme selfies are all well and good, I think that we can all agree that no picture is worth losing your life for.

3. Potato Chip Rock, USA

At the top of the Woodson Mountain near the town of Poway in California is the Potato Chip Rock – named for obvious reasons. With the right angle, it can look like there is an abyss underneath the rock, but in reality, there are only several feet separating it from the ground.

As a result, Potato Chip Rock is a great spot for families to take faux extreme pictures.

4. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

But the same can not be said of the Devil’s Pool at the top of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It’s a specific part at the top of the 393 ft waterfall where the water runs slowly – so slowly, in fact, that people regularly swim there. As a result, they’re able to take relatively safe daring pictures.

However, they can’t be taken at just any time. The Devil’s Pool is only usable in the drought season between September and December.

5. A treehouse with a swing, Ecuador

Dubbed the “Swing at the End of the World”, it’s not far from a town called Baños in Ecuador. Naturally, it’s been a hotspot for cool photographs for a long time. Situated 8,727 ft above sea level, as the picture below demonstrates, it’s attached to a treehouse.

The difference between the swing and the ground, however, is just a few feet, which is why it’s suitable for children.

6. Flydalsjuvet, Norway

Elevated 1,007 ft above Geirangerfjorden is Flydalsjuvet Rock, which can be translated to “flying over the canyon.” Despite the fact that there are a fence and warning signs around its ledge, people regularly ignore them for the sake of an impressive picture.

While it’s admittedly not the safest spot in the world, the cliff itself is pretty wide, so as long as you stay at a reasonable distance from its edge and get someone to snap a picture of you at just the right angle, you’ll be able to get a picture that makes your Facebook friends green with envy.

7. Storseterfossen, Norway

This gorgeous waterfall is near Geirangerfjorden. It’s not just a beautiful waterfall either, it’s one of a few in the world that you can enter and watch water flowing down its side. However, if you’re wanting an impressive snap, you need to go to the small ledge on the way to the waterfall.

Here, you will be sitting just a few feet above the ground, but the right photographer will be able to make it look like you are sitting on the edge of an abyss. If I had a band, I’d fly us all here to get a killer album cover – there’s nothing more rock n roll than an extreme picture like that!

8. Ryten, Norway

Ryten is a mountain on Lofoten Island. It’s not for the faint-hearted at 1,781 ft high. Pictured above is a small ledge which turns into a death-defying photograph opportunity if the picture is taken at the right angle. And don’t worry, it’s only several feet in the air so it’s totally safe.

9. Fish River Canyon, Namibia

South of Namibia is the Fish River Canyon, which is one of the biggest canyons in the world measuring 99 miles long, 16 miles wide and about 1,640 ft deep. Its high ledges are the perfect place to take a daring picture without actually putting yourself in danger.

How? Well, it’s because the ledges themselves are only around two feet above the ground, but if a snap is taken at the right angle, it will look a lot higher.

10. Cânion do Itaimbezinho, Brazil

Cânion do Itaimbezinho is in Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra, which is south of Brazil. Tourists flock to the area to take pictures because it’s a staggering 2,296 ft deep – so we can safely presume that the people who visit here do not have a fear of heights.

As the picture above demonstrates, it’s easy to pretend that you’re sitting on the ledge without actually putting yourself in danger. But as ever, please exercise extreme caution when taking pictures in a place that has the potential to be dangerous.

Now, I don’t know about you, but these pictures have inspired me to book a plane ticket and take a trip somewhere incredible. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And would you want to take an extreme selfie while you’re there?!

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