What's Going On In Russia's Selfie Safety Ads?

On Tuesday, Russia's interior ministry launched a very unique safety campaign for Russian citizens. The topic in question was selfie safety. Yes, the Russian government has created an entire campaign that aims to educate selfie-takers about the safest practice of their photography. The BBC reports that the campaign was created as an apparent reaction to recent incidents of serious injuries or deaths resulting from high-risk selfies. The campaign comes in the form of a booklet that is now being disseminated. The booklet features simple illustrations of people attempting to take selfies in dangerous situations, but some of the depictions of selfie danger are a tad ... confusing. Taking a quick look, it's more than fair to ask just what is going on in these Russian selfie-safety campaign materials.

The campaign's slogan is: "Even a million 'likes' on social media are not worth your life and well-being." Good point. I would be inclined to think of this as common sense, but apparently there is a strong trend in Russia to attempt dangerous feats in the name of getting an impressive selfie, according to Engadget. As such, educational materials highlighting selfie situations that should be avoided have become necessary, and will hopefully prompt a shift towards safer photography across the country. But as is the case with many simple illustrative depictions, the design of some of the selfie warnings don't exactly look like what they're meant to convey. Check it out:

The Train

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't stand on the train tracks and take a selfie when a train is approaching.

What it actually kinda looks like: Don't attach your phone to a pool stick and use it to poke a train.

The Rocket

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't take a selfie on transmission towers (??).

What it actually kinda looks like: Do not take a selfie on a rocket (unless you are a cosmonaut, probably).

The Boat

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't take a selfie while leaning over the back of a boat.

What it actually kinda looks like: Don't take a selfie while dancing disco on a boat whose flag at its front cannot counterbalance your weight in the rear.

The Roof

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't take selfies while you are hanging off the side of a roof.

What it actually kinda looks like: Do not reenact Fiddler on the Roof while taking a selfie.

The Tiger

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't take selfies when you are dangerously close to a wild animal.

What it actually kinda looks like: Don't take selfies while pretending to be Hamlet and your phone is the skull, a tiger might sneak up on you.

The Train Part Two

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't hang off the side of a train to take a selfie.

What it actually kinda looks like: Don't attempt to practice martial arts on a train while taking a selfie.

The Fall

What (I think) it's supposed to mean: Don't stand on steep and unstable surfaces to take a selfie.

What it actually kinda looks like: Don't take a selfie as you fall down the stairs, and then take an additional selfie as you fall down a steep and rocky hillside.

So there you have it: Helpful instructions from Russia to its citizens, and us all.

Images: Screenshots/ Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (8)