* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, October 24, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy – Yahoo

    Johnny Depp Set for a Triumphant Hollywood Comeback Following Amber Heard Controversy

    ‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Review: Hit Manga Gets an Ultra-Violent, Surprisingly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation – Yahoo

    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Review: A Brutal and Unexpectedly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation

    Reba McEntire Details Personal Relationship With Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock – KNDU

    Reba McEntire Shares Emotional Tribute to Her Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock

    Sacramento city leaders approve adding 2 entertainment zones in midtown – CBS News

    Sacramento City Leaders Approve Two Thrilling New Entertainment Zones in Midtown

    AMC brings first new Dolby Experience to Gwinnett since 2017 – Wyoming News Now

    AMC Launches First New Dolby Experience in Gwinnett Since 2017

    Hetzel Design: blending architecture and entertainment – Blooloop

    Hetzel Design: Where Architecture and Entertainment Unite in Perfect Harmony

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New technology for grading and packing dates – FreshPlaza

    Revolutionary Technology Transforms Date Grading and Packing Process

    Project underway to upgrade technology on 911 towers in Kanawha County – WCHS

    Kanawha County Launches Major Upgrade to 911 Tower Technology

    Next steps: Technology opens new options for greater mobility – Missouri Independent

    Next Steps: How Technology is Opening Exciting New Doors to Greater Mobility

    Rydberg Technologies Inc. Announces Launch of Rydberg Photonics in Berlin – The Quantum Insider

    Rydberg Technologies Launches Exciting New Photonics Division in Berlin

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    Office Technology: Dealers’ Managed IT Revenue up Nearly 30% – The Cannata Report –

    Office Technology: Dealers’ Managed IT Revenue up Nearly 30% – The Cannata Report –

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy – Yahoo

    Johnny Depp Set for a Triumphant Hollywood Comeback Following Amber Heard Controversy

    ‘Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc’ Review: Hit Manga Gets an Ultra-Violent, Surprisingly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation – Yahoo

    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Review: A Brutal and Unexpectedly Emotional Big-Screen Adaptation

    Reba McEntire Details Personal Relationship With Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock – KNDU

    Reba McEntire Shares Emotional Tribute to Her Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock

    Sacramento city leaders approve adding 2 entertainment zones in midtown – CBS News

    Sacramento City Leaders Approve Two Thrilling New Entertainment Zones in Midtown

    AMC brings first new Dolby Experience to Gwinnett since 2017 – Wyoming News Now

    AMC Launches First New Dolby Experience in Gwinnett Since 2017

    Hetzel Design: blending architecture and entertainment – Blooloop

    Hetzel Design: Where Architecture and Entertainment Unite in Perfect Harmony

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New technology for grading and packing dates – FreshPlaza

    Revolutionary Technology Transforms Date Grading and Packing Process

    Project underway to upgrade technology on 911 towers in Kanawha County – WCHS

    Kanawha County Launches Major Upgrade to 911 Tower Technology

    Next steps: Technology opens new options for greater mobility – Missouri Independent

    Next Steps: How Technology is Opening Exciting New Doors to Greater Mobility

    Rydberg Technologies Inc. Announces Launch of Rydberg Photonics in Berlin – The Quantum Insider

    Rydberg Technologies Launches Exciting New Photonics Division in Berlin

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    A look into new technology at Columbia University that could help prevent a dangerous pregnancy complication – ABC7 New York

    Office Technology: Dealers’ Managed IT Revenue up Nearly 30% – The Cannata Report –

    Office Technology: Dealers’ Managed IT Revenue up Nearly 30% – The Cannata Report –

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Is fear of sharks being overblown?

November 16, 2023
in Science
Is fear of sharks being overblown?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Shark fear: Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water…

Sharks are overrepresented in ‘creature features’ building fear and negative perceptions about these animals. Credit: “Great White Shark” by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water….” It’s one of the most famous taglines in film history, immortalizing sharks as ruthless predators. But beyond the horror generated by Spielberg’s “Jaws” series, a persistent fear of sharks remains, with consequences that extend into reality.

Following human-shark interactions in South Australia, this fear has prompted the Education Department’s ban on school-based sea activities for at least the remainder of the term. And while safety is at the core of such decisions, we should be cautious of scaremongering, says University of South Australia shark expert Dr. Brianna Le Busque.

“When we hear about shark ‘attacks,’ it definitely puts people on edge, especially when interactions and sightings are sensationalized by the media,” Dr. Le Busque says.

“As most people do not have personal interactions with sharks, most of what we know about sharks comes from what we see on TV or in movies. Movies such as ‘Jaws,’ ‘The Meg’ or ‘The Shallows’ depict sharks as purposely hunting and attacking humans, which not only creates excessive fear but strengthens any negative views people may already hold.

“This is called the ‘The Jaws Effect’—a known phenomenon where people are excessively and irrationally scared of sharks—today, nearly 50 years after the first ‘Jaws’ movie, it still influences people’s perceptions of sharks, impacts conservation efforts, and affects policy decisions. That’s what we’ve seen with the current bans on sea-based water activities. And the problem is that it could have negative impacts on children’s ideas of water and beach safety.”

In a new UniSA world first study, Dr. Le Busque shows how overrepresented sharks are in the realm of “creature features”—a subgenre of science fiction, horror, or action films where the creatures are the villain in the plot. The study has been published in the Journal of Environmental Media.

“Sharks are commonplace in ‘creature feature’ films—they overrepresented, being the most common animal in this film category. Further, of all films that depict sharks (in various genres), 96% overtly portrayed shark-human interactions as threatening.”

In the past 50 years, oceanic sharks have declined by more than 70%, with one in three species now threatened by extinction.

Dr. Le Busque says while she believes the bans on school activities are currently unwarranted, she welcomes the early deployment of aerial shark patrols.

“Earlier shark monitoring is a good move to protect beachgoers, but we need a balance between people’s safety and access to the ocean,” Dr. Le Busque says. No one wants a shark attack to occur, but these bans are just creating the same fear as generated on the ill-fated Amity Island in ‘Jaws.’ It’s just not the right way to go.”

CEO Surf Life Saving SA Damien Marangon says the ban on beach-based aquatic programs, without consultation or understanding facts and broader impact, was disappointing.

“While the shark attack is incredibly unfortunate, it’s also important to remember that tragically, far more people sadly drown every year in South Australian waters than there are shark attacks,” Marangon says. “Over the past 20 years, we’ve averaged just over one instance per year. Despite the incidents over the last month or so, our data shows that we have not seen an increase in shark numbers.

“We were concerned about the impact this would have on the 3,899 students, from 47 schools who were enrolled in that program for the remainder of this term, who would not have had the opportunity to learn vital water safety skills, jeopardizing their future safety in and around the water.

“Decisions like this, made in isolation, also unfortunately promote a fear of the ocean, which could have wide ranging and long-lasting impacts on our communities, local traders, family businesses, and the travel industry, by unnecessarily exacerbating a fear of our ocean, and will impact visitors to our beaches and our State.

“We’re actively working with the Water Safety Unit within the Department for Education on strategies to continue to ensure that all participants can complete these aquatic education programs at the beach safely, and continue to make informed decisions based on data, research and stakeholder engagement.”

More information:
Brianna Le Busque et al, Sharks, spiders, snakes, oh my: A review of creature feature films, Journal of Environmental Media (2023). DOI: 10.1386/jem_00096_1

Citation:
Is fear of sharks being overblown? (2023, November 15)
retrieved 16 November 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-11-sharks-overblown.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2023-11-sharks-overblown.html

Tags: overblownsciencesharks
Previous Post

Three thousand years’ worth of carbon monoxide records show positive impact of global intervention in the 1980s

Next Post

Late Prehistoric discovery turns archaeological assumptions on their head

Inventing habitats – High Country News

Building Tomorrow’s Habitats: Breakthrough Innovations Transforming Our Future Environments

October 24, 2025

Enhancing Nucleic Acid Biosecurity to Counter Advanced Generative Protein Design Tools

October 24, 2025
Science Says Optimistic People Live Up to 12 Years Longer. Here’s How You Can Be More Positive, Hopeful, and Confident – Inc.com

Unlock a Longer Life: Discover How Cultivating Optimism Transforms Your Health and Happiness

October 24, 2025
Fall River Eats: Eskimo King closes for season; Table for Two special at Fall River Grill – Yahoo

Eskimo King Closes for the Season – Enjoy the Irresistible Table for Two Special at Fall River Grill!

October 24, 2025
New technology for grading and packing dates – FreshPlaza

Revolutionary Technology Transforms Date Grading and Packing Process

October 24, 2025
Your weekend plans: Satire, scares and sports – Axios

Get Ready for the Weekend: Satire, Spooks, and Sports Galore!

October 24, 2025
Dodgers’ Alex Vesia’s World Series availability unclear while dealing with ‘deeply personal family matter’ – CBS Sports

Dodgers’ Alex Vesia Faces Uncertainty Over World Series Availability Amid Personal Family Matter

October 24, 2025
Fewer pastors say economy is negatively impacting their churches in 2025: Lifeway Research – Christian Post

Growing Number of Pastors See Positive Economic Impact on Their Churches in 2025

October 24, 2025
Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy – Yahoo

Johnny Depp Set for a Triumphant Hollywood Comeback Following Amber Heard Controversy

October 24, 2025
Duke professor Kyle Walsh to lead environmental institute of NIH after atypical selection process – The Duke Chronicle

Duke Professor Kyle Walsh Takes the Helm of NIH Environmental Institute After Unconventional Selection Process

October 24, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (884)
  • Economy (905)
  • Entertainment (21,776)
  • General (17,779)
  • Health (9,946)
  • Lifestyle (918)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (906)
  • Politics (915)
  • Science (16,116)
  • Sports (21,405)
  • Technology (15,885)
  • World (888)

Recent News

Inventing habitats – High Country News

Building Tomorrow’s Habitats: Breakthrough Innovations Transforming Our Future Environments

October 24, 2025

Enhancing Nucleic Acid Biosecurity to Counter Advanced Generative Protein Design Tools

October 24, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version