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[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur on the 13th, a new study found that people's demand for selfies or perfect landscape photos is causing harm to nature. Australian researchers published a paper in the journal Science of the Total Environment, exploring the direct and indirect impacts of the emergence of social media and the popularity of taking photos and checking in on the natural environment, including interference with animal reproduction and life patterns and damage to endangered plants.

Rob Davis, a senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University in Australia, said: "The popularity of social media groups has made it easy for people to find the locations of endangered plants and breeding grounds for wildlife such as birds, and the rapid spread of this information has caused previously peaceful areas to become disturbed."

In addition, the use of drones and the photography of wildlife will have lasting negative effects, and indirect effects include the spread of animal diseases and increased poaching. According to researchers, a variety of plants and animals are negatively affected by human-related behaviors. The nesting process of the endangered bird blue-crowned laughingthrush has been changed due to the interference of photographers; sensitive plants such as orchids are also threatened by increased tourism activities promoted by social media; marine life, such as whale sharks, are also affected by the interference of divers and the use of flash photography.

Despite these problems, Davis believes that social media can also be a conservation tool, helping professionals use data collected by ordinary people for research. The popularity of social media has also directly led to the discovery of several new plants. In order to reduce negative impacts, the researchers called for more detailed tourist ethics and strengthened management of the promotion of animal and plant information on social media. (Zhou Yang)