Social media influencers are being advised to cease close-contact interactions with sharks due to a recent increase in attacks, with scientists expressing concern over videos showing people swimming near, touching, or even riding the apex predators. While shark bites remain rare, at least three influencers have been attacked in the past year.
Fishing influencer Henry Gibbs was severely injured in an attack by a reef shark while spearfishing in Fiji on July 18. He required four surgeries and a skin graft to save his right leg. In December 2025, a Chinese content creator in the Maldives was bitten by a nurse shark. Researchers at the International Shark Attack File have noted a rise in shark attacks on individuals filming them over the last three years. A study on 'swim with wildlife' expeditions found that influencers and photographers were most likely to disregard safety instructions.
Further incidents include a tourist in the Caribbean who lost both hands in February 2025 while attempting to photograph a bull shark from shallow water. Two months later, a snorkeler off the coast of Israel was killed by sharks, reportedly while trying to take a photograph. Despite these events, the overall risk of shark bites has remained stable at approximately 70 bites per year over the last three decades.
Tayane Dalazen, a Brazilian lawyer and social media personality, was attacked by a nurse shark in April during a diving trip. She noted an unusual concentration of sharks at the surface, later learning the tour operators were feeding them to attract them to tourists. The shark bit her thigh, causing lacerations, and held her underwater before she escaped. Dalazen, who shared footage of the incident online, described the experience as "very frightening."
Shark scientist Kristian Parton stated that footage of shark encounters and attacks is being seen "every single week now." She emphasized that sharks are wild animals and that approaching them can cause stress, impacting their ability to survive and reproduce. Studies indicate that close contact with sharks elevates their stress hormone levels, potentially weakening their immune systems and affecting reproduction.
Some content creators, like Ocean Ramsey, who gained fame for swimming with large great white sharks, assert their intentions are conservation and education. Ramsey denies that touching sharks causes harm, stating that sharks initiate interactions and that her work emphasizes respect and observation. However, experts like Dr. Jack Cooper question how touching or riding sharks contributes to conservation efforts, suggesting such actions are closer to harassment and do not provide data for conservation policies.
Marine biologist Eric Clua noted an increase in incidents where people get too close to sharks, attributing it to social media portrayals that reduce the perception of danger. He stated that the message conveyed is often that interacting with sharks is safe. With shark swimming and diving tours increasing in popularity globally, experts caution that the pursuit of the perfect selfie or video could lead to dangerous consequences.