Library:Influence of social media on fear of sharks, perceptions of intentionality associated with shark bites, and shark management preferences (research)
Influence of social media on fear of sharks, perceptions of intentionality associated with shark bites, and shark management preferences is a paper authored by William R. Casola, Justin M. Beall, M. Nils Peterson, Lincoln R. Larson and Carol S. Price on 21 October 2022. The paper discusses the importance of shark conservation and how positive social media-based outreach can reduce fear of sharks and change misperceptions about shark bite intentionality. The article presents the results of an experiment that showed that positive YouTube content decreased fright, perceived danger, and perception of shark bite intentionality.
The paper states that sharks are important for conservation efforts as they provide benefits to marine ecosystems and humans. They help regulate oceanic food webs and their removal can reshape coastal ecosystems. Sharks have intrinsic value due to their aesthetic appeal, contribution to global biodiversity, connection to human culture, and evolutionarily important lineage. However, shark populations have declined by about 70% since 1970 due to human activity, especially commercial fishing. To elicit more support for shark conservation, the public needs to overcome fear of sharks and misconceptions about them.
Key takeaways
Shark Conservation: Sharks are critical to marine ecosystems and provide benefits to humans, but their populations have declined due to human activity, especially commercial fishing. Conservation efforts are constrained by public fear and misperceptions.
Social Media Impact: Positive social media-based outreach can reduce fear of sharks and change misperceptions about shark bite intentionality. An experiment showed that positive YouTube content decreased fright, perceived danger, and perception of shark bite intentionality.
Framing Theory: The way information is presented influences how it is processed and the changes in perceptions that result from it. Positive message frames about wildlife are more impactful than negative frames and may help reduce fear, correct misguided perceptions, and promote pro-conservation attitudes and behaviors.
Conclusions
This study suggests that YouTube videos can be an effective tool to decrease fear of sharks, perceptions of intentionality associated with shark bites, and support for lethal forms of shark management. Carefully framed communication about sharks has the potential to shape public perceptions of the species, including risk, fear, and perceived intentionality of shark attacks. Social media videos can influence public perceptions of carnivore species, including tolerance of sharks and wolves. Public perceptions of environmental topics are shaped by how issues are framed on social media.
See also
- Animal:Shark Portal
- Category:Shark (interviews)
- Category:Shark (news)
- Category:Shark (reports)
- Category:Shark (research)
- Category:Shark finning (research)