YouTube and TikTok are currently developing AI to detect "staged animal suffering." Algorithms are being trained to distinguish between a genuinely clumsy cat and a cat that has been intentionally startled or glued to a surface. The platforms are moving from reactive (taking videos down after complaints) to proactive (preventing uploads that show signs of animal distress).
The next time the algorithm serves you a "hilarious" raccoon wearing pajamas, pause. Ask yourself: Is this animal comfortable? Is this wild? Or is this just a digital cage with better lighting? Your attention is the ticket price. Choose which show you pay for.
While media like BBC Earth or Animal Planet can inspire conservation, popular entertainment often has the opposite effect.
