14-year-old TikTok star dies over a selfie after falling from a waterfall
Jul 31, 2024
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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One of the most devastating selfie-related accidents happened recently in Myanmar. A 14-year-old TikTok star, Moe Sa Nay, tragically lost her life while attempting to capture a selfie at a waterfall.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Monday, July 22, at Sinywa Waterfall in Paung. Moe and a friend were visiting the scenic spot when they both slipped and fell. While her friend managed to escape with minor injuries, Moe was swept away by the powerful current and became trapped between two large boulders.
Rescue efforts on the day of the accident were unsuccessful, with Moe’s body remaining pinned between the rocks overnight. It wasn’t until the following day that authorities were able to recover her remains. “The one who slipped reached the bottom, but died after getting stuck between the rocks,” Rescue worker Mon Zaw explained. “She died because she couldn’t get out. They tried to rescue her, but couldn’t pull her out. Then the aid organizations and officials came.”
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the online community, with Moe’s TikTok followers expressing their grief and anger. Many have called for greater awareness of the dangers associated with social media stunts, particularly those involving risky behavior.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time a young person has lost their life while attempting to create viral content. Dexerto reports the death of an 11-year-old boy in March while he was participating in the “chroming” challenge, a dangerous TikTok trend involving inhaling toxic chemicals. We’ve heard and reported many selfie-related deaths over the years, including adults and teenagers alike, as well as animals.
At the same time, people have been causing chaos and endangering their and other people’s lives just so they could snap a shot for Instagram. Recent examples include causing a motorcycle crash while winking for a photo and causing a train crash for a YouTube video. Just in case you thought that the world hasn’t gone that insane…
[via Dexerto]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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4 responses to “14-year-old TikTok star dies over a selfie after falling from a waterfall”
Ladies and gentlemen, the death of an influencer and another sad contribution to the Darwin Award! May I ask where Moe Sa Nay’s parents were – both in terms of education (the dangers of waterfalls) and supervision (not allowing minors with underdeveloped risk awareness explore dangerous locations alone)?
Darwinism is a bitch and it doesn’t age discriminate.
I agree with the two other responders, but it is still achingly sad that one so young dies this tragically, a kind of accidental suicide. I am a parent and a grandparent, and the two words I say most are BE and CAREFUL. It is monotonously repetitive, but I have to say it, like a mantra. If my granddaughter were to want to become an influencer (God forbid), I wouldn’t know what to do. My adult Kidz work. I am disabled. We all know that there comes a stage of life where you cannot command them not to do things; fourteen seems about right.
Concerned Parent wrote, “…not allowing minors with underdeveloped risk awareness explore dangerous locations alone…” That sounds like a solid formula, but these kids are people with their own agendas, and rebellion is a natural consequence of growing up.
I have no answers.
@Charles G Haacker: Neither have I. What I have written may sound sarcastic or even misanthropic. But in fact it’s desparate, disillusioned helplessness.
What is it with those kids that they are riding e-scooters in twos, headphones on and persistently ignoring red lights? Why are friends sitting next to each other, staring on their smartphones continuously, indicating that virtual “friends” are worth more than real ones?
Why are parents not aware of the crap that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are dumping on minors? Why do they have an interest in reproducing in the first place when they then leave their kids alone with their fears, needs, questions instead of being a role model (alas, they ARE role models – but not in a positive sense)?
I have a 10yo daughter and am far from sounding like a broken record saying “BE CAREFUL”, “do this”, “don’t do that”. But I at least try to raise some attention, a sense of empathy for other people with her. My daughter becoming an influencer (i. e. a superfluous, superficial, meaningless sockpuppet of our consume society) would make me infinitely sad. And believe that I did something terribly wrong in her upbringing.
Nothing against rebellion. There is a time in everyone’s live where you think you’re somehow invincible. Or even immortal. And it’s pure luck to survive that phase with just a few scratches and bruises. Ask me why I know. But losing one’s live for such a stupid thing like an TikTok-selfie?
Un-f*ing-believable! Wake up everyone, please!