Liked to death? The social media race for nature photos can trash ecosystems - or trigger rapid extinction.

Social media has had positive effects on nature, such as increased visibility and interest in citizen science. However, there is a dark side to the sharing of nature photos on social media. Viral photos can lead to an influx of people visiting natural areas, causing damage to ecosystems. Unethical practices among photographers, such as using bird calls to lure out rare species, can also harm wildlife. Baiting, drone photography, and trampling of fragile plants are additional negative impacts. The sharing of location information can also lead to the over-collection of rare species. To mitigate these issues, ethical choices and better moderation on social media platforms are needed, as well as measures such as banning drones and limiting access to environmentally sensitive areas. [Extracted from the article]