WHO DOESN’T LOVE a good selfie? The tricky part is getting everyone in the small photo if it’s a group selfie, so naturally you’d all huddle up close. Aw that’s sort of sweet, right?

INCORRECT.

What you’re really doing, is spreading manky head-lice.

The argument

Lice removal specialist (it’s a calling) Marcy McQuillan told SFist that she’s seen a huge increase in the level of teen lice this year, which she believes is a direct consequence of teens “sticking their heads together every day to take cell phone pics”.

McQuillan works at the Nitless Noggins clinc in California and warned that teenagers need to wake up to the harsh realities of unprotected selfies.

Every teen I’ve treated, I ask about selfies, and they admit that they are taking them every day…I think parents need to be aware, and teenagers need to be aware too. Selfies are fun, but the consequences are real.”

SO. NOW. The harsh, harsh truths.

The rebuttal

However, there’s no consistent numbers to prove that there’s actually a genuine rise in lice cases.

Harvard School of Public Health teacher and pest-identifier Dr. Richard J. Pollack told NBC News that the incidents of lice are quite low in teens to begin with so spreading it is unlikely.

This is a marketing ploy, pure and simple. Wherever these louse salons open a new branch, there always seems to be an epidemic. It’s good for business.

So there you have it, snap away, once all your mates are nit free.

h/t DailyDot

Watch in horror as reporter swallows her own snot live on air>

People REALLY aren’t taking Gerry Adams’ Twitter Q&A seriously>