Germany's trains: Can be high-speed killers
But in their rush to recreate such idyllic images, many overlook the dangers posed by Germany's high-speed train network -- occasionally with deadly results.
"Even if a train were to come, I wouldn't let go of your hand," read the dramatic pledges emblazoned across photos often posted on Facebook or other social media platforms.
German police believe the seemingly innocent trend may have already claimed lives.
Two weeks ago, the bodies of two girls-- aged 14 and 15 -- were discovered by a friend near the tracks outside of Luenen in northwestern Germany. According to local media reports, police have ruled out suicide and a camera was discovered near the bodies.
Speaking to the German regional paper, the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, police spokesmen Volker Stall confirmed that photos have played a role in similar incidents, including the death of two girls in 2011 in Memmingen in Bavaria in the south of Germany.
"Earlier, girls may have had a poster of The Pussy Cat Dolls on their wall and worn similar make-up," said Martin Voigt, a Munich-based linguistic and sociologist, who points to a new "cult of the B.F.F" or Best Friends Forever -- coupled with the power of social media -- for the risky new trend.
"But now girls are almost like little stars themselves and can portray themselves like stars on social media," he said.
He points to media stars like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie for popularizing the B.F.F. concept when they began incorporating their private relationship into their public personas. According to Voigt, social media platforms give young women the ability to compete with their favorite stars "eye to eye."
He said social media has changed the way young girls interact and has led to young women forming much more emotional and public relationships and posting pledges of friendship on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and other social networks.
According to Voigt, train tracks are often chosen because they are romantic symbols, but many of the young girls are unaware of the dangers lurking on many of Germany's railways.
"We need to tell girls that it's hard to hear a train coming and that you often don't have time to react when a train is coming toward you," he said.
But despite repeated public information campaigns by German police, the deaths in Luenen demonstrate that railways still pose a danger to German adolescents.
Voigt has praised the efforts to inform young girls of the dangers posed by high-speed trains. But he also called of parents to actively involve themselves in their children's online lives.
It's a sentiment echoed by police spokesman Stall, who also called on parents to pay attention to what their children post on social media.
"It's more important that parents observe what their children are doing" said Voigt. "A lot of parents don't have a clue about Facebook or social media. The children are often left on their own."
By Aaron Tilton
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