Selfie sticks banned from Six Flags

Following a similar decision by Disney, Six Flags has banned selfie sticks from its amusement parks across America.

The company implemented the new policy Monday, said Katy Enrique, communications manager for Six Flags Great America in Gurnee. Six Flags has 15 other locations across the United States, plus one each in Mexico and Canada.

Disney banned selfie sticks from its amusement parks in late June, following an unsuccessful attempt to ban them only from rides in which they would be dangerous, according to The Washington Post. Six Flags took it a step further, also banning monopods and “similar devices.”

The goal is to prevent incidents involving such objects, she said. Enrique didn't answer a question about whether any such accidents involving people or equipment have taken place at Six Flags.

“We strive to provide the safest possible environment in our parks, and these devices pose a safety risk to guests and employees,” Enrique said.

Monopods are one-legged devices that photographers use to steady their cameras. Selfie sticks, which sometimes are called monopods, are made specifically to take pictures with cellphones.

When asked why Six Flags decided to ban monopods and other devices as well, Enrique replied, “These devices can also pose a safety risk.”

Selfie sticks also have been banned from destinations across the world, including Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lollapalooza, the Kentucky Derby and the Wimbledon tennis championships.