A recent surge in shark attacks has been attributed to social media influencers encouraging risky interactions with these marine predators, according to marine biologists.
Yes, really, they’re pissing off sharks for clicks.
The pursuit of viral content, such as selfies and videos with sharks, is leading tourists to provoke the animals, resulting in defensive bites, according to scientists quoted in a Daily Mail report.
Influencers 'are to blame for rise in shark attacks': Scientists say they 'can't believe we have to tell people not to grab an 18-foot predator' https://t.co/9e3ZmeTQwf
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 25, 2025
Scientists are alarmed by influencers who promote touching or grabbing sharks, with some even seen holding onto their dorsal fins for dramatic photos.
“We can’t believe we have to tell people not to grab an 18-foot predator,” one expert urged.
How influencers are the reason for rise in shark attacks — experts shocked that they have to issue warning https://t.co/ToKVzcRO7k pic.twitter.com/DzzB8DnpJ5
— New York Post (@nypost) April 25, 2025
The insanity is off the scale.
Notable incidents include a Russian influencer bitten in the Maldives earlier this year and travel influencer Lilian Tagliari, who was attacked by a nurse shark while swimming among a group of 50 in the same region.
Reckless Russian influencer attacked by a shark while trying to go viral during her holiday in Thoddoo Island, Maldives 🇲🇻. Some people will do anything for clout 🤦♂️😂 https://t.co/DHxUq9XFCF pic.twitter.com/9N1CVEJxIt
— Falil (@alfalil) November 30, 2024
A travel influencer has captured the moment she was bitten by a shark while swimming in The Maldives.
— The Project (@theprojecttv) December 5, 2024
Source: Lilian Tagliari pic.twitter.com/N1gTvC0Snd
The rise in such content is encouraging other people to engage in it.
Here some lunatic parents allow their own children to have sharks swimming around them on the same beach in Israel where a man was eaten alive just days ago.
The non-stop enviro push in the last few years to normalize sharks and shark / human contact has gone too far..
— Ron M. (@Jewtastic) April 21, 2025
Here, parents implore their kids to 'just not move' as massive sharks swim between their legs. Everyone is just in the water without a care in the world with adult… pic.twitter.com/I4aeRP9gUA
Shark attack kills an Israeli person in Hadera. pic.twitter.com/36HGa9a6Iu
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 21, 2025
Other idiots just seem to think it’s cool to hang around sharks.
Shark bites finger of woman that attempted to feed it in Western Australia, dragging her into the water. She escaped with a fracture and a torn ligament.pic.twitter.com/JE3voEw5A6
— Aesthetic World (@AestheticW0rId) December 24, 2023
A young Aussie influencer has captured the nerve-racking moment a shark swam into shallow waters at a WA beach, but to the surprise of her followers, she ran towards it, not away from it. https://t.co/lGBy7SUaM3
— PerthNow (@perthnow) April 23, 2025
Despite their fearsome reputation, sharks are not naturally aggressive toward humans, experts emphasize. However, provocative actions, often inspired by social media, are disrupting their behavior.
The Mail report notes that influencer Ocean Ramsey, known for her shark-swimming videos, defends her content as educational, but scientists like Eric Clua argue that such posts send a dangerous message by downplaying the risks.
The trend has sparked concern for both human safety and shark conservation. Misleading portrayals could fuel fear and harm efforts to protect these vital marine species.
As influencer culture continues to shape travel behaviour, experts have urged greater awareness and respect for wildlife to prevent further incidents.
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