Expertise for press article
Noledge provided guidance to the PlayBac Presse group for the writing of two articles addressing the dangers of videos featuring animals on social media. One of the articles was published in Mon Quotidien, aimed at readers aged 10 to 13, and the other in L’Actu, targeting the 13 to 20 age group.
Animals are not toys.
Excerpt from Mon Quotidien
A tiny, adorable bichon strapped into a doll’s car, a cat frightened by someone in costume… Countless “funny” videos circulate on social media and YouTube. Some rack up millions of views. But beware — they can be misleading.
“Some people force their dogs or cats into unnatural positions and behaviors. Animals are not toys,” warns Amandine Sanvisens, co-founder of the animal protection association PAZ. “Sometimes animals are mistreated. Some are used by people who make money from these videos.”
These setups often ignore the animal’s welfare.
Excerpt from L’actu.
The Facts
Animal videos are hugely popular on YouTube and other social media platforms. Yet behind some of these clips, there may be hidden cases of mistreatment.
Understanding
Unusual or cute, tiny or oversized, baby animals or bizarre creatures… “When we see dogs or cats being well cared for in their daily lives within their families, there’s no issue,” explains Amandine Sanvisens, co-founder of the animal protection association PAZ. “But they should not be treated like objects.”
Veterinary behaviorist Sylvia Masson agrees: “A cat wearing a hat in a stroller isn’t necessarily ‘adorable.’ We need to be cautious about anthropomorphism. These staged scenes often ignore the animal’s well-being. And animals do have emotions. A Jack Russell chasing the 1,000th ball from an automatic launcher, a pony scratching itself frantically against a tree… that’s not funny: these animals are suffering from disorders and need care.”