UK gallery snaps over selfie sticks

Britian's National Gallery is banning selfie sticks because they fall under the category of tripods, which are already prohibited.

Selfie sticks will be banned from Britain's National Gallery.

Visitors will not be able to use the gadgets at the venue because they fall under the category of tripods, which are already prohibited.

Other cultural destinations in London are believed to be considering a similar move.

A spokeswoman for the National Gallery said: "Photography is allowed for personal, non-commercial purposes in the National Gallery. However, there are a few exceptions in order to protect paintings, copyright of loans, individual privacy and the overall visitor experience. Therefore the use of flash and tripods is not permitted.

"Our gallery assistants and visitor-facing staff are fully briefed and instructed to ensure we are striking the correct balance between visitor experience and the security and safety of works on display."

Selfie sticks have drawn disapproval from traditionalists but they have proved immensely popular. Amazon reports sales rose by 300 per cent in September-November.

However, they have met increasing resistance in recent months.

English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur banned selfie sticks from White Hart Lane after a complaint from a fan, and they have been barred at a number of galleries and museums in the US and France.

The online Collins dictionary describes a selfie stick as "an elongated stick to which you attach a camera or mobile phone to take a better photo".


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Source: AAP



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