Will Vernon

Influencers and tourists are increasingly swimming close to, touching, and posing with sharks for social media content, despite the risk of serious injury and the stress such interactions can cause the animals. Tayane Dalazen describes being bitten by a nurse shark during a Brazilian diving tour allegedly involving shark feeding, while experts cite several other recent incidents. Although influencers say their actions promote conservation and education, researchers argue that the videos normalize unsafe behavior, provide little conservation value, and can harm sharks. The article concludes that shark encounters remain statistically rare but that pursuing the perfect photograph can have severe consequences.

Several influencers and wildlife tourists have been bitten or seriously injured while trying to film or photograph sharks, despite the overall risk of an unprovoked shark attack remaining extremely low. Tayane Dalazen was bitten by a nurse shark off Brazil after joining an excursion where sharks were reportedly fed to attract tourists. Experts say social-media videos showing people touching, riding or approaching sharks are becoming more common and may encourage unsafe behavior while stressing the animals. Content creator Ocean Ramsey argues that her close encounters promote education and conservation, but shark specialists reject the idea that harassing sharks benefits conservation. Researchers call for greater caution as shark-swimming tourism expands worldwide.

Social-media personalities and tourists are increasingly approaching, touching and filming sharks at close range, sometimes with serious consequences. Brazilian lawyer and influencer Tayane Dalazen was bitten by a nurse shark during a diving trip after tour operators allegedly fed sharks to encourage interaction. Experts say such incidents remain rare overall, but attacks linked to filming shark encounters have increased, while social-media videos may encourage people to ignore safety guidance. Researchers also warn that human contact can stress sharks and disrupt important feeding, breeding and nursery areas. Ocean Ramsey, who runs paid shark tours, rejects claims that her content encourages dangerous behavior and says her work promotes conservation. Other shark specialists dispute that justification, arguing that touching or riding sharks provides little conservation or scientific value and may normalize unsafe conduct.

FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich has voluntarily suspended his duties after being placed on the EU’s sanctions list for supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea and describing occupied Ukrainian cities as Russian territories. Dvorkovich, who denies resigning and calls the sanctions unlawful and unfair, faces an asset freeze and travel ban. Ukraine welcomed the move, while critics accuse him and Russia of using FIDE to expand Moscow’s influence; Dvorkovich rejects those claims. His planned bid for re-election in September is now uncertain, potentially marking a shift in the leadership of international chess.