Social media attention seeking behaviour is increasingly fraught with danger

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Like morning follows night.

Recently, a Russian "model" (who can't be a model these days - when you have 'Insta-platform' as catwalk?), in her early 20s, crossed the line when she dangled precariously from the scaffolding of a skyscraper, in Dubai's picturesque Marina setting, with nothing to hold on to save the hand of a "male assistant". On hand, also, was a photographer who furiously clicked photos and videos.
Media reports were quick to point out she hadn't taken permission (or factored in safeguards) from the authorities to indulge in this "death-defying" stunt; it was a punishable offence. Let the law takes its own course, I say, in letter and spirit, but let's examine the spirit of this phenomenon.
This exercise in (what) could-have-been-fatality was done so said Russian babe could procure a whole lot of 'Likes', 'Shares' and 'Reposts' on Instagram, Snapchat and the rest of the social media universe. She's not alone here. The world, at large, is now populated with twits (tweeting about the art of living dangerously) who think the more dangerous, the better - but only because it's the easiest way to grab eyeballs even as audience fingers hover between swipe and click. You better ensure you have something up your sleeve that'll make digital intercourse stop in its tracks for at least a couple of seconds.
As attention spans get short and shorter, attention seekers get desperate and more desperate. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Like morning follows night.
The BBC ran a story some time ago - on the back of research paper findings by Ohio State University; the research deep dove into a parallel social media-driven existence, where 'social' validation is the oxygen for survival, and tried to figure out "how pictures that people post on social media can tell an interesting story about their personality". The lead researcher, one Jesse Fox, was quoted as saying, "Likes are a quantifiable way of measuring popularity. and these days it isn't enough to just post a picture of yourself, because everyone is doing that. The more extreme it is, the more likely you are to stand out and get lots of likes and comments."
Rightly said. Sadly, the stakes one is risking life and limb for are not something as spectacular as going to battle to protect your country or saving people you love from an apocalypse-like situation (like Mel Gibson did in Signs). It's, in fact, singular (not plural). One short stake: 'Likes'. On virtual reality. The person liking your photo/video is probably chomping on oatmeal and has just finished 'Liking' and 'Sharing' a morphed photo of Donald Trump's hair when he/she comes across you in a deadly pose. And there's every chance, he/she will - in two seconds, give or take - move on to the meme where Rahul Gandhi's head is speaking to the Congress hand (his party symbol).
The first "comment" that popped into my head when I saw the Russian model-dangling-inelegantly-from-skyscraper video - that had, obviously gone viral (wasn't that the whole point?) - was: "What if the male assistant had suffered a paralytic stroke right at that very moment - while he was holding out his hand gallantly like Sir Galahad for the hanging lady to latch on to? Or what if he had a bout of low pressure wheezing through his body, throwing his balance off-kilter? In both cases, he'd have to let her go."
I cannot believe there is no "awareness" about social media "attention seeking" being fraught with danger. I read dozens of itemised news feeds on social media itself - such as, somebody got run over by a train while trying to take a selfie; someone fell from a cliff while trying to take a selfie; someone stomped into a tiger's den (at the zoo) to take a selfie - and got mauled in the process; and so on. Despite the onslaught of instructive information available at a digital click (or swipe), nobody's really learning a lesson.
I'd forwarded the dangling Russian "model's" video to my cousin, who's a microbiologist in Singapore. Since he's the only scientist in my family, it's safe to assume he's the brainiest of the lot. I wanted his scientific inputs on the matter. I called him last Saturday for a piece of his mind (okay, I didn't call him just for this, there was some family politics to discuss as well). "There's no scientific explanation for this," he said. "Seriously, this defies all notions of rationality. All I can say is that I'd rather not dwell on stuff that's so mind-numbingly stupid - like the video you forwarded. You shouldn't either."
"But it's gone viral," I insisted.
He hung up.
Yup! These social media 'feats' that went viral
Reports summarily say a lot of attention seekers on social media are "psychopaths". Well then, check out these psycho acts - Hitchcock's probably turning in his grave because they would have given Norman Bates a huge, huge complex
The Girl who Undertook the 'Hot Water Challenge': A young woman threw a pot of boiling hot water on her brother and scalded him. The video went on to be one of the most-watched ones. Ever.
Set yourself on fire with the 'Fire Challenge': One of the most popular social media gambits, you douse yourself with flammable liquid, and then. set yourself on fire. Do you also end up calling the fire brigade?
Be a choker, play the 'Choking Game':
As a frenzied participant, you try out any means guaranteed to cut off oxygen supply to your brain. Yes, you can die if it goes awry, so it's do-or-die, and a lot of bravehearts are choking on themselves for five seconds of (in)fame.  
Sushmita is Editor Wknd. She has a penchant for analysing human foibles 
sushmita@khaleejtimes.com