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It’s news that will probably have many selfie-takers exclaiming, “Ouch!” before rushing to the bathroom to give their hair a vigorous wash, and it could even mark the beginning of the end of the increasingly popular ‘group selfie’.
Selfies seem to be contributing to the spread of lice, especially among the younger population. At least that’s the opinion of California lice expert Marcy McQuillan, who says she’s seen a “huge increase” in lice cases among teenagers this year.
While this claim may cause waves of fear among the teenage community, we should also consider that the ears themselves must be overjoyed that the practice of taking pictures of friends in this way has taken off in the way that it has.
“I usually treat younger children because they are at higher risk from direct contact,” McQuillan explained. “But now teenagers are putting their heads together every day to take pictures with their cellphones.”
She adds: “I ask every teenager I’ve treated about selfies, and they admit that they take them every day… I think parents need to be aware, and teenagers too.” Selfies are fun, but the consequences are real.”
Sure, it’s hardly a scientific study, and McQuillan runs an lice treatment center so it’s in her best interest to keep nits in the news, but from what she’s seen, could it be that selfies are lice’s best friends?
With the rise of social media apps like Instagram, the popularity of selfies has recently exploded, so much so that the word ‘selfie’ has been chosen by Oxford Dictionaries as its international Word of the year for 2013, beating strong competition like twerk, showrooming, bitcoinand drunk hour.
However, according to McQuillan, it now appears that when you snap a selfie, there’s a good chance it won’t just be you and your friends staring into the camera lens, with some of the wingless creatures on top of your head happily moving home while you’re all messing around doing your best faces.
So unless you want tons of lice in your hair, you should keep your distance from now on when you huddle together for a selfie, or wear a shower cap, or something. Or if you really have to butt heads, maybe you should get a haircut first.
[via sfist] [Image: Lighthunter / Shutterstock]
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Source: newstars.edu.vn