Just when you thought Thailand was the perfect place to take a snap on the beach, the local government goes and bans the selfie.
Not any old seflie, though, the underboob selfie, which the military regime says is prohibited under the country’s computer crimes legislation. Because boobs can be dangerous, guys.
The ban falls under the Computer Crimes Act, which bans content that might result in “damage to the country’s security or causes public panic”, as well as “any obscene computer data which is accessible to the public”.
“When people take these ‘underboob selfies’ no one can see their faces,” government spokesman, Anandha Chouchoti, said. “So it’s like, we don’t know who these belong to, and it encourages others to do the same.”
But if that sounds a bit far-fetched, wait until you get a load of the other selfies that have also been banned around the world. Better watch yourself taking selfies both at home and abroad, especially if you don’t want to find yourself in hot water.
What a croc
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Crocodile selfies have been banned in the Northern Territory after tourists began sharing photos of themselves appearing dangerously close to crocodiles at Darwin’s Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve.
Tiger selfies
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In a similar vein, the state of New York has banned selfies taken with dangerous animals at zoos, circuses and carnivals. The new law was passed after Tinder app users, mostly men, were uploading pictures of themselves with tigers.
Running with the bulls
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One man was fined more than $4,000 for taking a selfie while running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Selfies have been banned from the iconic event to protect people from distraction and injury.
No Mecca selfies
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Muslims making their way to Mecca have been warned not to take selfies of their hajj pilgrimages, with religious leaders saying it takes the sanctity out of the journey.
Australian Open
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Selfies are even under threat from our very own Australian Open. While they haven’t been banned altogether, organisers have warned spectators to be mindful about their selfies and selfie sticks, because it could become a nuisance for others trying to watch the game.
No Iranian soccer selfies
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Iranian soccer players have been asked by the national government not to take selfies with female Iranian fans overseas. Women are traditionally not allowed at soccer matches and generally do not adhere to the country’s strict dress codes abroad.
A brag-free zone
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The pristine beach of Garoupe in France has banned beachgoers from taking selfies and bragging to their friends about their getaway. Authorities have created no brag zones so people can enjoy the scenery rather than busying themselves with their smartphones.
Driving selfies
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With more than 4 million posts under the hashtag #driving on Instagram, the New South Wales government has attempted to crack down on the dangerous selfie craze. Insurance company, AAMI, said there was even a disturbing trend on the rise of young drivers who take videos of themselves driving and post them to Vine and Instagram.
Purling Brook Falls selfies
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Gold Coast authorities have warned tourists about the dangers of snapping a selfie on Purling Brook Falls, with some seen putting their lives in danger just to get the perfect snap.
Bear with me
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If the crocodile and the tiger selfies weren’t dangerous enough, some people have even been snapping selfies with bears in Sierra Nevada in the United States. Officials have since called for the dangerous craze to stop, saying tourists are putting their lives at risk.
Have you heard about any other illegal selfie crazes? Share them with us in the comments section below.
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