#Biteme: Considering the Potential Influence of Social Media on In-Water Encounters with Marine Wildlife

Chantal Pagel; Mark Orams; Michael Lück

doi:10.3727/216901925X17394346478540

Back

#Biteme: Considering the Potential Influence of Social Media on In-Water Encounters with Marine Wildlife

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

#Biteme: Considering the Potential Influence of Social Media on In-Water Encounters with Marine Wildlife

Chantal Pagel, Mark Orams and Michael Lück

Tourism in Marine Environments, Vol.20(1), pp.101-110

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/216901925X17394346478540

Files and links (1)

pdf

s7432.38 kBDownload View

Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access

Related material

Is same as

#BiteMe: Considering the potential influence of social media on in-water encount...

Abstract

Marine Wildlife Tourism

Risk

Selfies

Social Media

Swim-With Programs

Over the past three decades, interacting with wildlife as a tourism activity has grown significantly and has transformed from a relatively rare experience into a mainstream tourism product. Tourism opportunities to watch, photograph, and otherwise interact with animals in their natural environment have grown to include a range of species and settings, including in the sea. Close encounters with marine wildlife are facilitated by a wide range of commercial operators, and many include and promote a strong adventure component. This article provides a consideration of the issues of risk and the emerging role of the use of social media in marine wildlife tourism experiences. While the concept of ecotourism has been widely explored in wildlife tourism research, the inherited risk involved in these activities has received little attention. This is particularly the case regarding interactions with potentially dangerous wildlife in open-water environments. This aspect warrants exploration in the context of the growth of wildlife photography/videography and sharing via social media platforms, which frequently display close encounters with animals in dangerous scenarios for both people and wildlife involved.

Details

Title: #Biteme: Considering the Potential Influence of Social Media on In-Water Encounters with Marine Wildlife
Authors: Chantal Pagel (Corresponding Author) - Auckland University of Technology
Mark Orams - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Michael Lück - Auckland University of Technology
Publication details: Tourism in Marine Environments, Vol.20(1), pp.101-110
Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.3727/216901925X17394346478540
ISSN: 2169-0197; 1544-273X
Copyright note: This article is Open Access under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND licence.
Organisation Unit: USC Business School - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991127095402621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

41 File views/ downloads

10 Record Views