Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum bans selfie sticks

The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum banned selfie sticks this week. The selfie stick is a sleek, metal rod that attaches to iPhones so people can snap better self-portraits. The stick is also being banned by some of the top museums in the country. It is already prohibited at: Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum and in the indoor galleries at California’s Getty Center and Getty Villa, selfie sticks might next be banned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The National Gallery of Art plans on formally banning selfie sticks next week, and does not allow camera bags or extra photo equipment. Spokeswoman for Hirshhorn Kelly Carnes stated the policy is in place to protect artwork and visitors from potential harm. Smithsonian museums already struck down a ban against tripods and camera stands. No injuries or problems have been reported due to selfie sticks. Officials plan to develop a Smithsonian-wide policy on selfie sticks.