GoPro Roller Coaster Selfie Stick Photo Goes Viral – Banned
Tuesday GoPro posted something very irresponsible bringing heat to the multi-billion dollar company.
The “selfie” has become a global phenomenon in recent years, with everyone from celebrities and tourists to photobombing animals striking poses at their own camera lens. Recent studies have shown on average, more than one million selfies are taken everyday from cameras and video cameras.
When one purchases a GoPro video and photo capturing device, they are tempted to take photos and video of EVERYTHING, and that means more selfies. But not every photo taken with the companies high-res cameras are best to highlight to a large audience.
Coaster fan Peter Nguyen purchased a GoPro Hero4 along with a selfie stick before visiting Six Flags Over Texas. He decided to capture his ride on the parks famed roller coaster, The Texas Giant. After his ride he posted a screen shot of his video to social media.
GoPro took notice of the photo and posted it as their “photo of the day” to thousands of followers of their social media accounts. Coaster enthusiasts and fans across the country went bonkers saying the photo was irresponsible, unprofessional, and even illegal. GoPro seemed to be encouraging folks to take photos on rides by supporting Nguyen’s photo. Below is what they posted via twitter that Was later deleted.
At most theme parks and amusement parks around the world, any type of cameras and “selfie sticks” are strictly prohibited on rides. The equipment could easily break loose and fly back injuring someone or worse get stuck in the ride mechanisms causing the entire ride to malfunction.
The “selfie stick” aka hand-held rods, which hold a smartphone or camera on one end, can telescope out a few feet to create distinctive angles for photographs. The cameras can be aimed back toward the holder, allowing for a full view self-portrait.
Loose objects have brought great concerns to amusement parks such as Universal, Disney, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and many more.
Injuries aboard Universal Islands of Adventure’s Dragon Challenge roller coaster may have been caused by airborne items. The park has since adjusted the timing for its dueling tracks to avoid overlap. In recent months, team members stationed at thrill ride entrances have enforced a regulation prohibiting loose items, including cellphones, keys, hats and coins. Universal has went a step further installing metal detectors at some of their ride entrances creating a “no loose item” policy.
Selfie sticks are prohibited on rides but aren’t banned entirely yet. A Disney World spokesperson recently said:
“Guests riding attractions, trams and other moving vehicles are already asked to securely stow any equipment such as cameras, canes and other personal belongings — and selfie sticks are in the same category. They are ok to use elsewhere in Disney’s theme parks and properties”.
Even though selfie sticks are prohibited on rides, one other annoyance to guests is when they are being used during park shows. Lets face it, no one wants to watch a show with a pole in their way.
We want to know what our readers think about the use of selfie sticks at parks. Should they be banned all together or just on rides? Let us know in the comments below or via our socials.
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