Turkish TikToker Dies While Filming Video: Where Does The Blame In Such Accidents Lie?

Kubra Dogan video death case: With each passing day that social media cements its stronghold over the digital age, influencers push the limit on what works to keep themselves relevant to the game. They are, after all, among the internet's most invaluable resources. And so, the lines between danger and daring are drawn thin. Tiktokey Kubra Dogan's death has drawn our attention to this very line, yet again.

Whenever a young social media celebrity passes away - as did 23-year-old Dogan, who fell to her death while filming a sunset video with her cousin in Istanbul, Turkey - yields a complex picture. More so, when such incidents have become disturbingly common, with similar reports surfacing every few weeks from across the world.

Dogan was visiting her cousin in Istanbul. The duo went to the roof of the complex where Dogan's cousin used live, to click some pictures and shoot videos for TikTok on Monday evening. Around 7: 30, Dogan stepped off the roof, onto a grey plastic covering that was much more delicate than she had anticipated. Dogan's 16-year-old cousin heard a loud tearing noise and witnessed Dogan fall down nine-stories as the plastic sheet gave away under her weight. When paramedics were called to the scene of accident, they declared the TikToker dead.

Her death comes soon after that of Hong Kong influencer Sophia Cheung, who slipped and fell to her death while clicking a selfie near a waterfall last month. Chinese online celebrity Xiao Qiumei too died after falling several feet from a crane while recording a livestream.

Is it possible at all to pinpoint blame in freak accident deaths? Could the loss of life in these cases could have been avoided if a little more caution was exercised? Then again, don't we live in a minefield of fatal accidents waiting to happen? How far is better judgment possible?

And finally, how best should fan communities estimate the grief the deaths of their favourite youth celebrities invokes?

Influencer Kubra Dogan Falls To Death: How Young Deaths Paint Complex Pictures

Dogan's family said the accident occurred due to improper roofing, a construction flaw. The question is: was the roof equipped to take the weight of a person at all? Can the blame be pinned there? Or should it be pinned to a chance mishap?

'If only..." is the standard human reaction to misfortunes of this sort. Impossible imaginings of what could have happened instead. 'If only she had moved away from the roofing moments prior.' 'If only she hadn't stepped on that plastic sheet,' or 'If only she had not taken the risk of filming such a daredevil stunt for her viewers.'

In the end, perhaps, it all boils down to this - the futile chase of internet validation that is only gathering breathless speed, there's no looking back now. We as consumers of the content that these social media stars put out, also need to express our concern over their safety. We need to draw a line for the sake of our beloved creators, and to assure them that we will continue to love them even if they don't climb mountains, hang from cliffs and risk their safety to be more appealing.

Is there a U-turn somewhere down the road?

Views expressed are the author's own. 

Suggested Reading:

Everything You Need To Know About The Death Of Turkish TikToker Kubra Dogan

Who Was Kubra Dogan? Turkish Influencer Dies While Taking Sunset Selfie

5 Social Media Influencer Deaths That Shocked Fans Recently

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