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The Independent
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why scientists are blaming influencers for rise in shark attacks
Social media influencers encouraging travellers to 'stroke' sharks are behind a rise in shark attacks, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation, analysed records of shark encounters in the seas around French Polynesia and found that of the 74 recorded bites, five per cent were assessed as being defensive, occurring immediately after a human interaction perceived by the shark as threatening. In addition, the team examined a global database known as the Shark Attack Files, which holds data about such incidents dating back to the 1800s. Researchers found that more than 300 incidents fit the same defensive pattern. Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in France, who led the research, claimed that social media was responsible for encouraging people to interact with sharks. 'I don't encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a shark's dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless and [those people are] supposedly working for their conservation,' he said. 'People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull, whereas they don't know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents,' he told The Times. 'There's an incredibly negative perception bias towards sharks … they are responsible for fewer than ten human deaths a year worldwide, whereas dogs are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths and are perceived positively by the public.' Celebrities who have posted clips of themselves touching sharks include actor Zac Efron, singer Ciara and the actor Bella Thorne. Elsewhere, footage of divers handling sharks has gone viral, with some participants even grasping the nose of tiger sharks – a large apex predator that can grow to over five metres in length. Taylor Cunningham is a social media influencer who posts footage of her swimming with and touching sharks, while conservationist Ocean Ramsay says 'we love to share rare moments of physical connection'. While sharks have long had a fearful reputation, academics say such incidents tend to occur as a result of harangued sharks being poked and prodded by humans. Professor Clua's advice to anyone who finds themselves swimming with a shark is: 'Don't touch.' 'Just look at it. Enjoy its beauty, but remember they are wild animals, predators that can act as predators. It is not only a matter of safety but also of respect.'
The Independent
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why are influencers being blamed for rise in shark attacks
Social media influencers encouraging travellers to 'stroke' sharks are behind a rise in shark attacks, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation, analysed records of shark encounters in the seas around French Polynesia and found that of the 74 recorded bites, five per cent were assessed as being defensive, occurring immediately after a human interaction perceived by the shark as threatening. In addition, the team examined a global database known as the Shark Attack Files, which holds data about such incidents dating back to the 1800s. Researchers found that more than 300 incidents fit the same defensive pattern. Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in France, who led the research, claimed that social media was responsible for encouraging people to interact with sharks. 'I don't encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a shark's dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless and [those people are] supposedly working for their conservation,' he said. 'People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull, whereas they don't know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents,' he told The Times. 'There's an incredibly negative perception bias towards sharks … they are responsible for fewer than ten human deaths a year worldwide, whereas dogs are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths and are perceived positively by the public.' Celebrities who have posted clips of themselves touching sharks include actor Zac Efron, singer Ciara and the actor Bella Thorne. Elsewhere, footage of divers handling sharks has gone viral, with some participants even grasping the nose of tiger sharks – a large apex predator that can grow to over five metres in length. Taylor Cunningham is a social media influencer who posts footage of her swimming with and touching sharks, while conservationist Ocean Ramsay says 'we love to share rare moments of physical connection'. While sharks have long had a fearful reputation, academics say such incidents tend to occur as a result of harangued sharks being poked and prodded by humans. Professor Clua's advice to anyone who finds themselves swimming with a shark is: 'Don't touch.' 'Just look at it. Enjoy its beauty, but remember they are wild animals, predators that can act as predators. It is not only a matter of safety but also of respect.'
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
How selfie seekers are contributing to the rise in shark attacks
Image source: Alamy The pursuit of the perfect selfie has evolved beyond a harmless hobby and is now a dangerous trend in the oceans. Scientists are warning that the rising number of shark attacks can be attributed to tourists and influencers eager to capture close-up moments with these powerful predators. These reckless encounters, often driven by the desire to photograph or film, are leading to risky situations. A growing number of shark attacks are actually defensive responses by sharks, triggered by human behavior such as poking, prodding, or trying to photograph them. As the selfie craze intensifies, scientists urge people to reconsider the risks and treat these apex predators with the caution they require. How is the selfie craze leading to more shark attacks A new study published in Frontiers in Conservation reveals that many shark bites previously labelled as "attacks" are actually defensive reactions. Sharks are typically non-aggressive toward humans. They respond instinctively when they feel threatened, often after being poked, prodded, or grabbed by individuals trying to take photos or videos. Social media's role in fueling risky behaviour around sharks "People are treating sharks without any caution, in ways they would never treat a strange dog," says Professor Eric Clua of Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) University, the study's lead author. "Many influencers encourage clinging to a shark's dorsal fin or stroking them under the false idea that they are harmless. But this behaviour provokes the animal's survival instincts." Image source: Alamy What does the study reveals The study examined shark encounters in French Polynesia from 2009 to 2023. Out of 74 recorded bites, about 5% were found to be defensive, occurring immediately after humans behaved aggressively or intrusively toward the shark. Most incidents involved smaller species like grey reef sharks, lemon sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and nurse sharks. What role are influencers playing in shark-human conflicts This trend is fueled by viral social media content, where influencers and even celebrities showcase themselves swimming beside or touching sharks. Wildlife photographer Taylor Cunningham, for example, shared videos of herself touching tiger sharks, calling them "like family." Meanwhile, marine biologist Ocean Ramsey sparked controversy after being filmed swimming alongside and stroking a giant great white shark, Deep Blue. Recent examples of shark bites These seemingly awe-inspiring moments come with real consequences. Recently, a Canadian tourist lost both her hands and part of her thigh while trying to photograph a shark in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In another tragic case, Barak Tzach, a father of four, was killed by sharks while attempting to film them off the coast of Israel. Misconceptions about sharks vs. the reality of their behaviour Experts emphasise that shark bites are extremely rare compared to other risks — sharks are responsible for fewer than 10 deaths a year globally, while dogs cause over 10,000 fatalities annually. Yet sharks suffer from a strong negative public image, leading to fear and misunderstanding. "Enjoy the beauty of sharks, but remember: they are wild predators," warns Professor Clua. "Look, don't touch." What can be done to prevent future shark bites The message is clear. As the obsession with capturing sensational content grows, so does the risk, not just to humans, but to the sharks themselves. Scientists hope that by highlighting the real causes behind many of these incidents, people will rethink their approach to interacting with wildlife. In the end, the best selfie might be the one taken from a safe distance, respecting the majestic creatures we are so eager to capture.
The Independent
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Influencers blamed for rise in shark attacks
Social media influencers encouraging travellers to 'stroke' sharks are behind a rise in shark attacks, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation, analysed records of shark encounters in the seas around French Polynesia and found that of the 74 recorded bites, five per cent were assessed as being defensive, occurring immediately after a human interaction perceived by the shark as threatening. In addition, the team examined a global database known as the Shark Attack Files, which holds data about such incidents dating back to the 1800s. Researchers found that more than 300 incidents fit the same defensive pattern. Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in France, who led the research, claimed that social media was responsible for encouraging people to interact with sharks. 'I don't encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a shark's dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless and [those people are] supposedly working for their conservation,' he said. 'People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull, whereas they don't know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents,' he told The Times. 'There's an incredibly negative perception bias towards sharks … they are responsible for fewer than ten human deaths a year worldwide, whereas dogs are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths and are perceived positively by the public.' Celebrities who have posted clips of themselves touching sharks include actor Zac Efron, singer Ciara and the actor Bella Thorne. Elsewhere, footage of divers handling sharks has gone viral, with some participants even grasping the nose of tiger sharks – a large apex predator that can grow to over five metres in length. Taylor Cunningham is a social media influencer who posts footage of her swimming with and touching sharks, while conservationist Ocean Ramsay says 'we love to share rare moments of physical connection'. While sharks have long had a fearful reputation, academics say such incidents tend to occur as a result of harangued sharks being poked and prodded by humans. Professor Clua's advice to anyone who finds themselves swimming with a shark is: 'Don't touch.' 'Just look at it. Enjoy its beauty, but remember they are wild animals, predators that can act as predators. It is not only a matter of safety but also of respect.'
New York Post
25-04-2025
- Science
- New York Post
How influencers are the reason for rise in shark attacks — experts shocked that they have to issue warning
Jaws and effect. Just when you thought it was safe to Go-Pro back in the water: French scientists have attributed the spike in shark attacks to selfie-taking influencers encouraging tourists to pet the toothy predators, per a 'Jaws'-dropping study in the journal Frontiers in Conservation. Contrary to sharks' portrayal as mindless killing machines in movies, researchers argued that many of the so-called attacks were defensive responses to being poked and prodded by online clout-seekers. 4 Ocean Ramsey swims with a massive Great White shark off Oahu, Hawaii. REUTERS 'I don't encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a shark's dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless,' lead researcher Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in Paris, France, told the Times of London. He was citing the growing genre of videos in which content creators film themselves swimming with and even poking the toothsome sea beasts. In one popular Instagram clip, wildlife photographer Taylor Cunningham is pictured touching the nose of a tiger shark off of Hawaii. 'The sharks here feel like family,' the self-proclaimed 'crazy shark lady' gushed in the caption. Coincidentally, the study comes just two months after a Canadian tourist lost both her hands after getting bitten by a 6-foot shark that she was trying to film in Turks and Caicos. Earlier this month, Barak Tzach, 40, a father of four who was killed while trying to film sharks in the water off Hadera, Israel. Although it's unclear in either case if the victims touched or fed the predators. To examine the cause of recent shark attacks, Professor Clua and his team examined records of encounters off the coast of French Polynesia between 2009 and 2023. 4 'I don't encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a shark's dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless,' lead researcher Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in Paris, France, told the Times of London. Kletr – They found that of the 74 bites recorded during this period, most of which were from smaller and medium-sized sharks, around 5% were likely to have been the result of sharks acting out in defense. He noted that these defensive bites came without warning and involved several bites, which generally only resulted in superficial wounds. A subsequent analysis of the Shark Attack Files — a global database with records dating back to the 1800s — revealed more than 300 incidents that were also defensive in nature. 4 Clua blames fin-fluencers for encouraging the public to get up close and personal with sharks. Mike Reich – Clua says part of the problem is that fin-fluencers interact with strange sharks — especially smaller ones — in a manner that they wouldn't with an unfamiliar dog. 'People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull, whereas they don't know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents,' he said. 'There's an incredibly negative perception bias towards sharks … they are responsible for fewer than ten human deaths a year worldwide, whereas dogs are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths and are perceived positively by the public.' Coincidentally, a 2020 study found that more people die taking selfies than are killed by sharks (read into that how you will). 4 Swimmer Barak Tzack was killed by sharks off the coast of Hadera, Israel. Tzack had been trying to defend himself using his GoPro. obtained by the NYPost Along with various influencers, many celebrities have been filmed swimming with the sharks, including the singer Ciara, and movie stars such as Bella Thorne and the actors Zac Efron and Will Smith. Unfortunately, it's not just laypeople who are to blame for poking the bear, er, shark. In 2019, Oahu-based marine biologist Ocean Ramsey made waves after she was filmed swimming alongside and touching a great white shark believed to be Deep Blue — which, at 20 feet long, is allegedly the largest in the world. Her aquatic King Kong saga was subsequently criticized by shark researcher David Shiffman. 'I can't believe that 'please don't grab the 18-foot-long wild predator' is something that needs to be explicitly said out loud, but here we are,' he told the Washington Post at the time. Professor Clua said that ultimately, he hopes his research will both reduce the number of bites in the field and persuade journalists to take a closer look at the circumstances under which attacks occur, so they'll blame the human rather than the animal. When it comes to interacting with sharks, scientists urge people to look, but not touch them. 'Enjoy its beauty, but remember they are wild animals, predators that can act as predators,' he warned. 'It is not only a matter of safety but also of respect.'
