Lifestyle
14 Places Where Selfies Are Banned
Today, crowds of tourists tend to rush to any landmark to take a selfie, which is not surprising at all that some places ban selfies and selfie sticks.
Walt Disney World
In July, Disney banned selfie sticks in all of its theme parks around the world after a passenger attempted to take a selfie using a selfie stick when riding a rollercoaster, which led to the ride being shut for an hour.
The Palace Museum, Beijing
Chinese officials banned selfie sticks there because they ‘pose a risk’ to other people as well as the antiquities.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
California officials banned taking selfies at Lake Tahoe – especially with bears – for the reason that it is dangerous to turn backs to bears in order to take better photos.
Pamplona, Spain
Spanish authorities banned taking selfies and recording videos during bull runs for the sake of safety of participants.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Although cellphones are not banned in Mecca, visitors are asked not to take selfies during the Hadj for the reason that every ihram must stay focused on himself and his thoughts.
The Garoupe beach, France
Banning selfies is the way authorities of the Garoupe beach in southern France fight against people showing off how they spend their vacations. There is even the ‘selfie police’ patrolling the beach.
South Korea
Although selfies are not officially banned in South Korea, the government regulates the sales of selfie sticks, which are believed to be means of communication, according to the Korean law, and thus have to go through certification. Those who sell uncertified selfie sticks in South Korea may face 3 years in prison or a fine of $27,000.
Polling booths
While the Netherlands fully encourages the trend of taking selfies in polling booths, Belgium, South Africa and the U.K. banned such selfies for the reason that it might reveal the secrecy of vote. You may face 6 months of prison or a fine of 5,000 euro if you take a selfie in a polling booth in the U.K.
Music venues and festivals around the world
Such music venues in London as O2 Arena, the Academy Brixton and the SSE Arena Wembley ban not only selfie sticks, but also iPads and other tabs.
Besides, the first music festivals to ban selfie sticks this year are Coachella and Lollapalooza.
The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
The museum’s authorities banned all kinds of photography there, as it “caused tension between those wishing to photograph and those wishing to view the paintings.”
Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Although the enforcement of the ban is not strict there, the Sistine Chapel is still uncomfortable with tourists taking pictures or recording videos of the art within.
New York state
New York is the first U.S. state to ban people from taking pictures with dangerous cats such as tigers, lions and leopards at places like zoos.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Some of America’s most popular museums, including the National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, are fighting against selfie sticks for the reason that selfie sticks ‘cause injury’ to works of art.
Iran
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran banned the national team of Iran from taking selfies with women, since women are not allowed to attend men’s sports events within the country.
