#Consumer Behavior and Influencers

[seohabibi]

This article explores how social media influencers are reshaping consumer behavior and driving trends in the digital age. It delves into the impact of influencer marketing and the ways in which these online personalities influence buying decisions.

#Power of Influencer #Influencer Marketing #Social Media Influencers #Influencer Impact on Brands #Consumer Behavior and Influencers #Influencer Marketing Trends #Influencer-Driven Purchases #Influencer Advertising #Instagram Influencers #YouTube Influencers #Influencer Brand Partnerships

[rollercoasterwords]

the tiktokification of ao3

or: some of you fundamentally misunderstand ao3 and it really, really shows

i was talking about this with a friend a few days ago and since then i've seen multiple posts of various sorts that have just made me think about it more, so. here is me breaking down a disconnect i see particularly with younger members of the marauders fandom (i say marauders specifically just bc that's the only one i'm plugged into):

okay, so i've seen many (usually younger) marauders fans either talking online about how they wish ao3 was more like social media (specifically regarding algorithms) OR talking about ao3/fanfiction/fanfic writers as if they are operating under the same etiquette/guidelines/assumptions they would bring into social media platforms. this ranges from being mildly irritating to genuinely harmful, and i want to talk abt why.

first - you have to understand that social media, in this day and age, exists in a profit economy. and when i say social media here, i'm referring to platforms like tiktok, twitter, instagram, etc. all of these platforms exist in a profit economy where content is a product that can be monetized. this leads to a few important distinctions:

people posting on these social media platforms are generally posting with the intent to get their content seen by as many people as possible, as quickly as possible

they post with this intent because once their content is consumed by enough people, it becomes a product that they can monetize

therefore, if that content gets popular enough, these people can become influencers, where content creation is an actual job and their audience are, in a sort of vague and obscured way, similar to consumers purchasing a product

because of the profit economy surrounding social media, there are certain assumptions + forms of interaction that bleed across almost all social media platforms. the ones relevant to this little essay include:

operating under the assumption that anyone posting anything on the internet wants to go viral, ie. be seen by as many people as possible as quickly as possible in order to grow an "audience"

these influencers are creating content for us, their audience, so they should want to please us. they should also be trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience. therefore, if we dislike their content, we have a right to make that very, very clear.

in that same vein, we have a general right to critique content creators, as they are making a profit and we are the consumers purchasing their product--much like you might feel entitled to a certain standard of service in a restaurant where you are paying for the food.

when you carry these assumptions over to a platform like ao3, it creates problems. why? in a nutshell: because ao3 exists outside the profit economy

ao3 is a non-profit. it does not have an algorithm because it is not trying to sell you anything. this means that the writers posting their work on ao3 are not making a profit. we are not influencers. we are not creating monetized content to sell to a consumer-audience. where consuming content on other social media platforms might be comparable to eating at a restaurant, reading fanfiction on ao3 is more like coming over to someone's house and eating cookies that they made for free. you are in their house. the cookies are free, given as a gift. so what happens when those assumptions outlined above start to bleed over from other social media?

assuming that anyone posting fanfiction online wants their work to go viral -- i've seen this with popular fic writers getting questions like, "are you worried x isn't going to be as popular as y?" those questions are usually not ill-intended, but they demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding about why writers post work on ao3. it's not to go viral. it's not to build any sort of online following. most of us who post on ao3 have jobs or schoolwork or other commitments, and writing fanfiction is something done for fun, out of a love for writing. those sharing their work online might be seeking community, but that is fundamentally different from seeking an audience, and in no way involves internet virality. if someone is posting fanfic on ao3 with the hope that it'll "go viral," then they likely either won't continue writing fanfic for long or will reach a point where they have to re-evalute their motivations, because seeking joy and validation by turning your art into a product for consumption just isn't very sustainable.

influencers are creating content for us, so we have a right to let them know if we don't like it -- nope!! fic writers are not influencers. yes, even the popular ones. no matter how much other people might blow their work up on social media, fic writers are still outside the profit economy. they are not creating content for an audience. they are not creating content for you. they are writing because they love it, and they are generously sharing it. if you don't like it, don't interact with it. you are never entitled to loudly and publicly proclaim how much you dislike a fic. i talk about this more here

we have a general right to critique fic writers, the same way we do with content creators/influencers -- again, no. you should not be treating fic writers the way you would treat an influencer on another social media platform, no matter how popular they may be. this is not to say fic writers are beyond all reproach; rather, it is a call-in to check your entitlement. fic writers are not little jesters entertaining in your court. they are not subject to your whims. they do not have to do things for you. they do not have to write things you like. in that post i linked on point 2, i talk about what etiquette might look like if you're really concerned that a fic writer is doing something harmful, but that is not what i'm talking about here. i am talking about the proliferation of negativity i have seen, especially on twitter and tiktok, where people essentially just talk shit about fics or fic writers as though they are entitled to have those fic writers working to please them. this is gross, and it needs to stop. you wouldn't go over to someone's house, eat the cookies they baked to share, and then spit those cookies back in their face and start shouting about what a shitty baker they are. or maybe you would--in which case, congratulations! you are Not A Good Person.

anyway, at the end of the day, a lot of this can be boiled down to: Because ao3 exists outside the profit economy, fic writers are not influencers, and you should never be treating them as though they are. i think i see this disconnect largely with younger people just because they've maybe only ever really understood social media within this sort of influencer-consumer-culture economy, and genuinely don't understand how to interact differently with the internet. so, consider this post a call-in to reevaluate the way you interact with fic writers and the etiquette you use when it comes to engaging with fanfic on ao3! i promise that ao3 being different from social media is a very, very good thing, and also a very, very rare thing, so let's treasure it and focus on fostering community rather than trying to morph it to fit the mould of influencer-audience dynamics that we see almost everywhere else <3

#tldr: fic writers aren't influencers #stop acting like they are #it only creates problems!!!! #anyway if you have engaged in some of these behaviors that doesn't make u a bad person #it just means u should maybe shift ur perspective moving forward #capitalism is a lifeless desert that grows every day and ao3 is a little oasis #let's all enjoy it while we can #instead of trying to place it within a consumer economy #ranting and raving #txt

[countess-of-edessa]

the thing about taking advice from anyone on tiktok or instagram including catholic and christian type influencers, parenting advice, relationship advice, etc, or internalizing any stories of horrible relationships and betrayal people tell on those platforms, or reading about all the ways interpersonal relationships can end horribly and be cycled through extremely quickly on those platforms is that you are necessarily then consuming the thoughts and experiences of someone who is willing to put their face and name on a public social media platform to talk at you. and like 1% of those people have a good reason for doing so and the other 99% are completely unhinged. so everything you’re consuming has first gone through the filter of "is this person weird and insane enough to make Instagram reels of themselves crying?" and if the answer is yes maybe their advice doesn’t apply to your life because you’re a normal person who would not do that.

#i don’t know if this makes sense but it’s something i was thinking about today #not that i really live my life according to Instagram reel advice but as a human being when i see something stated as fact i naturally seek #out the parts of it I believe or compare it to my current worldview #and when that person seems to have a lot of “clout” for discussing spiritual things….idk sometimes I’m like wait is this true? should i #believe this? and other times I’m like well is this a real pattern of behavior that can be observed in many people from different walks of #life including my own? this thing that all men do or all women do or the way all couples will eventually behave #this makes it sound like i am constantly on social media consuming hours of content which im really not #I’ll be on a train and scroll a little bit and something gets stuck in my craw #but with me I’m always like am i rationalizing this away because i don’t want it to resonate? #and I think in the case of anything on social media the answer can almost always be no #because im like wait. why would i take advice from someone who has a public Instagram account #im not saying a stopped clock isn’t right twice a day but really how much of my perspective and life experiences can they share in #when we have this totally totally mismatched worldview #(i mean this also applies to basically anyone offering any type of life advice who isn’t catholic about that) #(but when they are Catholics doing this that gives me slightly more pause for obvious reasons I’m like we are on the same team though?) #(and we are but only kind of and i do not have to listen to you because being an Instagram influencer is still cringe in 99% of cases.)

[niishi]

If u have bad mental health and you're misery obsessed, literally just stop feeding yourself poison all the time. Your mental health will improve. If you're only primarily consuming extremely angsty fiction, stuff with mentally unwell conflicts, abusive relationships, etc, you're only keeping your own mental status locked in a box of this one thing. If you're miserable irl, and obsessed with fiction centered around misery, it 1000000% IS making it so your mental health will never improve. When you see healthy relationships in fiction? Learn how to appreciate them and idolize them, and dissect them and understand them, instead of turning towards fiction that depicts this healthy relationship as abusive and toxic. You have to start somewhere with yourself. This is an easy way to help improve your overall mental health and worldly outlook.

#i see too many ppl #who struggle with bad mental health #and bad coping mechanisms #be solely obsessed with misery abuse and toxicity in fiction #and i then see how much that contributes to their irl misery #now it doesnt effect everyone this way #bc a lot of ppl can seperate fiction from reality and have good coping mechanism #but ppl solely misery obsessed have trapped themselves in a web where they are confused #over whats effecting them from real life and what fiction has influenced #i could go on and on about this bc ive just known toooooo many ppl #and their behaviors are terrible and a lot of it is influenced by how they consume media #and then we stop being friends bc im not okay with surrounding myself with misery #and thrn theyre even more miserable bc they keep driving ppl away by trying to drag them down #and its like man.... #you gotta make a change somewhere.... #media is probably the easiest place to start! #watch love live or something and then afterwards #dont go read fiction about them hating each other snd abusing each other #appreciate their healthy relationships with each other

[updatewave07]

Strategies to Increase CPM Rates on YouTube

#factors influencing location #factors influencing consumer behavior #factors influencing franchise sales #factors influencing buying decisions #factors influencing supply in business #influence factors #factors influencing the attractiveness of international markets #psychological factors influencing effective hotel revenue management strategies #factors #factors affecting capital requirements #youtube #major factors determining capital

[coralangelartisan]

Word of Mouth Marketing: Turning Customers into Advocates

Word of mouth marketing isn’t a new concept; it’s as old as commerce itself. Nowadays, its impact is amplified. A recommendation from a friend or family member carries more weight than any advertisement. Why? Because it comes from a place of trust and genuine experience.

#Word of Mouth Marketing #Customer Advocacy #Brand Advocacy #Marketing Strategies #Customer Engagement #Referral Marketing #Social Proof #Consumer Behavior #Brand Loyalty #Customer Experience #Influencer Marketing #Relationship Marketing #Viral Marketing

[marketxcel]

Unveiling the Impact of social media on Modern Market Research

Explore the profound impact of social media on contemporary market research, unraveling the dynamic ways it shapes consumer behavior insights, trends, and the strategies businesses employ to stay ahead in the digital age.

#Social Media Influence #Market Research Impact #Digital Consumer Insights #Social Media Analytics #Modern Market Trends #Consumer Behavior Analysis #Online Research Strategies #Data-Driven Decision-Making #Market Research Evolution #Social Media Trends #Digital Market Insights #Online Consumer Behavior #Social Media Research Impact #Market Research Methods #Digital Age Consumer Insights #Social Media Engagement #Market Research Innovations #Consumer Data Analysis #Digital Marketing Research #Data-Backed Strategies

[snware]

Consumer Insights in the Age of Social Media: Leveraging Online Conversations

In this age of social media, what people post online can really make a difference because everything they say leaves a mark. As per a recent survey, a staggering 71% of consumer buying decisions are significantly influenced by social media. This is happening to everyone. Even today, if you're thinking of buying something, there's a fair chance that social media can affect your decision. And, stop assuming that It's all because of trending hashtags that have been used. Instead, it's about paying attention to what everyone is talking about online – a practice we call social listening.

The Power of Social Listening for Business Success

Think of social listening as tuning into a radio station that shares what people are saying online. It's more than just tallying up mentions of a brand or topic; it's about truly getting what people feel, need, and think from their online words. This matters a lot for businesses as it lets them join these online talks and make choices that align with what customers really care about.

Think of it as a way for businesses to eavesdrop (in a good way!) on the online chit-chat to figure out what people like, don't like, and what they wish for. Knowing how social media dominates today can give you a secret weapon to shape business strategies that connect with customers' needs and likes.

Top 7 Reasons Why Social Media Dominating Us This Way

⦁ The Magnitude of Social Influence

Social media isn't just a platform; it's a digital universe where billions of voices echo and resonate. From Facebook to Instagram, Twitter to TikTok, these platforms have become the new-age town squares where conversations about products, services, and experiences unfold.

⦁ A Treasure Trove of Consumer Behavior

Have you ever wondered why businesses seem to have a knack for predicting your next purchase? It's not magic; it's the result of diving deep into the sea of social media conversations. Consumer Insight Research hones in on these discussions, extracting invaluable insights about consumer behavior, preferences, and needs. Market Research Services act as the guiding compass, navigating through the maze of data to uncover the patterns that drive consumer decisions.

⦁ The Power of Authentic Connections

Social media changed how brands talk to people. It's not only ads now—it's about bonding. Consumer Insights lets brands really hear what people say, learning their issues, dreams, and wants. Then Market Research Services turns this info into plans, so brands can genuinely connect and relate to their audience in a meaningful way.

⦁ Real-Time Feedback Loop

In the era of instantaneous communication, social media serves as a real-time feedback loop for businesses. Even the platform dynamics continuously monitor these channels, providing companies with immediate access to customer feedback, whether it's positive praise or constructive criticism. This swift response mechanism empowers businesses to address concerns promptly and enhance customer experiences.

⦁ Influence of Influencers and Trendsetters

The rise of influencers has transformed the landscape of brand promotion. The recent research on consumer insight identifies these influential voices amidst the social chatter, recognizing their impact on consumer decisions. Market Research Services helps businesses form authentic partnerships with influencers, leveraging their reach and credibility to amplify brand messaging and establish stronger connections with their target audience.

⦁ Crisis Management and Reputation Building

Social media isn't all sunshine and rainbows; it's also where storms brew. By monitoring conversations and sentiments, businesses can swiftly address issues, mitigate reputational damage, and steer their brand back on track.

⦁ Personalization and Tailored Experiences

One size doesn't fit all, especially in the realm of consumer preferences. Social media allows brands to delve deeper into individual tastes and preferences. Consumer Insight Research aids in understanding these nuances, enabling businesses to tailor their products, services, and communications to provide more personalized experiences. Market Research Services help interpret this data, ensuring that brands offer what consumers truly desire.

How do you implement data-driven strategies for continuous improvement via social insights?

Understanding what's said online goes beyond just reading words. It's about catching onto the trends and shifts happening out there. Talking to customers helps figure out what they really feel, and responding quickly shows you care, making your brand look good. Working together on social media helps make stuff people actually want, and learning from what other brands do helps you get better. Social media tools aren't just for collecting info; they can understand how people really feel. Making sure to use data right is a big deal; it helps build trust, which is super important for success.

– Monitoring Online Conversations

Listening to online talks means more than just checking what's said. It's about understanding the details, seeing the bigger picture, and spotting how things are changing. Doing this helps businesses notice trends, what people prefer, and how they're feeling.

– Identifying Trends and Sentiments

When businesses join chats with customers, they can know what people really think. Quickly answering questions or feedback shows how much a brand cares about making customers happy making folks see the brand in a good light.

– Influencer Marketing

Social media isn't just for ads; it's a place to team up. When businesses ask customers for ideas, they can help create products that fit people's wants.

– Competitor Analysis

Learning from what other brands do on social media can be helpful. It's not about copying them but learning, changing, and getting better based on what works and what doesn't.

– Social Media Listening Tools

Tools for watching social media are not just for gathering data; they help understand what it means. These tools give a special edge by understanding what people really feel.

– Privacy and Ethical Considerations

Taking care of how data is used is crucial. Being open and respectful about privacy builds trust with customers.

Conclusion

Isn't it fascinating how much we can learn from social media? There's a whole world of insights out there waiting to be discovered. Let's dive into these conversations, explore what people are saying, and see where it takes us. It's like uncovering hidden treasures! Together, we can understand more, connect better, and maybe even make a few things happen along the way.

#market research #social media #consumer insights #influencer marketing #consumer research #competitoranalysis #consumer behavior

[mehreenpaul]

The Hidden Challenges Marketers

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#Branding Insights #Consumer Behavior #Content Marketing #Digital Marketing Trends #Email Marketing Tips #Influencer Marketing #Marketing Analytics #Marketing Strategies #SEO Best Practices #Social Media Advertising

[stayask]

5 Factors That Influence Consumer Behaviour

What is Consumer Behaviour?

👉🏻Cultural Factors 👉🏻Social Factors 👉🏻 Personal Factors 👉🏻Psychological Factors 👉🏻Economic Factors

#influence #influencer #influencers #influencermarketing #influencerdigital #behavior #consumer #factors #influenced #Stayask #Principleofmarketing #Bcom

[sabertoothwalrus]

do you think Falin's chimerism would affect her lifespan and behaviors? or just her body? maybe she can make more animalistic noises or has vague dragon-like instincts?

that’s a really good question! I think we could probably figure this out by taking a look at what we know about Falin, what we know about red dragons, whether these things would apply to Falin, and go from there.

The obvious external changes Falin has are: her eyes, her teeth, and her feathers.

It’s hard to pin down what Falin is like! Throughout the duration of the manga, she wasn’t really a character so much as a plot device. We have almost nothing told from her point of view, and the majority of her unbiased (as in, we’re seeing her through a neutral lens and not another character’s perception of her) characterization is from the post-canon omake.

Even Falin believes that her wanderlust might come from her dragon side, but she's not sure. Personally, I think it’d make a lot of sense if it kind of does, in the sense that she has 20/20 vision now, haha! For most of her life, she could probably only see clearly within a relatively small sphere surrounding her, and now she can see everything. She can look up and around freely in a way she couldn’t before. Fuck man, if I had magic lasik I’d probably go out more too.

Some other quirks that are really unclear whether it’s typical for Falin or chimera-influenced:

she enters rooms through windows, sometimes. And given the leaves in her hair, I think it’s reasonable to assume this is not the first floor 💀 But who knows! Maybe that’s not new for Falin.

She points out that Laios’s scent could deter monsters. Maybe she has enhanced smell. But again, it isn’t unreasonable to think this is something she would have said before. (I think even Chilchuck and Izutsumi, whose senses of smell are enhanced, can’t identify scents well. Kuro, however, can.)

VIOLENCE! But again, we’ve seen her beat shit with her staff before, and she also used to wield a flail. It IS a trait for red dragons to fight any large threat, so if anything, she’s got even better monster fighting instincts than before. I don't think this would carry over to people. Falin has always been better with people, and I'm personally not a fan of seeing her depicted as territorial or possessive. Marcille is already the possessive one, and didn't need dragon blood to be like that.

Ultimately, I don't think her dragon traits extend much farther beyond this. Especially when you consider How Little the dragon is represented as in her conscience.

it's not like it's a 50/50 split. She's like a person with a dragon ratatouille. I don't think she'd be able to make dragon noises. I don't think her body is built for that. I know there's like, a set list of tropey characteristics that are given to almost every non-human character in fiction. and sure that's FINE but they tend not to be especially personalized to the character, and tend to just be an excuse to write them OOC. Like, sure, dragons may have instincts regarding sleep habits, hunting, courting, raising young, etc etc, but so do humans! And we don't compulsively act on every instinctual whim we have. I don't see why it'd be any harder for her new dragon instincts.

If anything, I think she'd feel more affected by the fact that she has part of the demon in her.

I don't think Falin's in any sort of trouble. All the demon was was a way to communicate with people. Here, it's representing Falin's tether to the infinite realm, to mana itself. The winged lion no longer has the desire to consume anymore because, yknow, Laios has that now. This is very likely why she no longer needs to chant to cast magic.

But what else does this mean for her? She already had unusually high reserves of mana + an innate connection with spirits, but is her mana essentially limitless now? How would that affect her lifespan? I'm leaning towards, it wouldn't really?? But is she immune to mana sickness now? Is it more like her magic is just sort of amplified like it would be in a dungeon?

We can infer that having more mana doesn't increase your lifespan, because-- while elves and gnomes have both naturally high levels of mana and longer lifespans-- dwarves live longer but have lowest levels of mana of all.

So to answer your question! Maybe a little bit?? But I don't think she'd change a whole lot.

#dungeon meshi #dungeon meshi spoilers #long post #falin touden #laios touden #chilchuck tims #marcille donato #my art #comic

[paktrendz]

Exploring the Phenomenon of Worldwide Trendz: A Comprehensive Journey

Table of Content HeadingSubheadingIntroductionUnderstanding Worldwide TrendzThe Evolution of TrendsHistorical PerspectiveWhat Drives Trends?Factors Influencing TrendsNavigating Through Cultural TrendsImpact on Society and IndividualsTech Innovations Changing TrendsIntegration of TechnologyFashion Trends Across DecadesStyle Evolution Over the YearsHealth and Wellness TrendsPrioritizing…

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#Artistic Expressions #Business Strategies #Communication Trends #Consumer Behavior #Culinary Exploration #Cultural Shifts #Digital Age Trends #Economic Shifts #Entertainment Trends #Environmental Choices #Evolution of Fashion #Fitness and Well-being #Globalization Impact #Health and Wellness #Innovation Insights #Language Evolution #Political Dynamics #Social Influences #Social Media Trends #Sustainability Trends #Tech Innovations #Travel and Adventure #Trend Forecasting #Trends and Culture #Worldwide Trendz

[vishalkoli2299]

Brand activation agency

#Brand activation agencies play a crucial role in helping businesses connect with their target audience and create memorable experiences. The #ultimately driving brand awareness #loyalty #and sales. #One of the key responsibilities of a brand activation agency is to understand the brand's values #objectives #and target audience. By gaining a deep understanding of these factors #the agency can develop strategies that align with the brand's identity and resonate with its intended audience. This involves conducting ex #analyzing consumer behavior #and identifying trends to ensure the brand activation campaign is relevant and impactful. #Once the agency has gathered all the necessary insights #they collaborate with the brand to develop a creative concept that encapsulates the brand's essence. This concept serves as the foundation #the agency ensures that every element of the campaign aligns with the brand's messaging and goals. #Brand activation agencies specialize in creating immersive experiences that captivate consumers and leave a lasting impression. They utiliz #such as experiential events #social media #and influencer marketing #to engage with the target audience. These agencies are skilled at transforming traditional marketing techniques into interactive and engagi #One of the most effective ways brand activation agencies create memorable experiences is through experiential events. These events provide #enabling them to forge a personal connection and create meaningful memories. Whether it's a pop-up shop #a product launch party #or a brand-sponsored festival #these events allow consumers to experience the brand in a tangible and exciting way. #In the digital age #brand activation agencies also leverage social media and influencer marketing to amplify the reach of their campaigns. By partnering with i #they can extend the brand's exposure and engage with a wider audience. This not only helps increase brand awareness but also encourages con #creating a ripple effect of positive brand sentiment. #Brand activation agencies also play a crucial role in measuring the success of their campaigns. Through data analytics and consumer feedbac #they evaluate the impact of their strategies and make adjustments as needed. This iterative process allows them to continuously optimize th #In conclusion

[etechnewsglobal]

TikTok Introduces Trendy Beats to Rival Amazon and Shein

Trendy Beat: A New Shopping Beat on TikTok TikTok, the social media sensation, is reportedly stepping into e-commerce territory by introducing an in-app shopping section known as “Trendy Beat.” Operated by a subsidiary of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, this new feature allows users to purchase popular products showcased in trending videos. Initial reports from the Financial Times reveal that…

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#ByteDance e-commerce initiative #E-commerce in social media platforms #Future of TikTok #Social media shopping trends #TikTok e-commerce #TikTok shopping feature #TikTok Trendy Beat #TikTok vs Amazon #TikTok&039;s influence on consumer behavior

[thirdeyeblindproduction]

The impact of influencer marketing on consumer behaviour?

Increased Trust: When an influencer endorses a product, their followers perceive it as a personal recommendation and are more likely to trust the product and consider purchasing it.

Improved Brand Awareness: This can help small and medium-sized businesses expand their reach to new audiences and build a loyal customer base.

Higher Engagement: When an influencer promotes a product, their followers are more likely to engage with the post, which can result in increased exposure and brand recognition.

Enhanced Sales: Studies have shown that influencer marketing can generate a higher return on investment than traditional forms of advertising.

Shift in Advertising Strategies: Instead of relying solely on traditional advertising methods, businesses are now incorporating influencer marketing into their overall marketing strategy to reach new audiences and build brand awareness.

#influencer #consumer behavior #consumer insights #marketing #business growth #digital marketing

[justawanderingfan]

The Hidden Problem of Outdoor Cats: Ecology of Fear

As a huge cat lover who grew up with cats and adores every part of them, outdoor cats are a problem. You’ve probably already heard this, but domestic outdoor cats are responsible for a staggering number of extinctions in local bird populations, even if someone thinks their “sweet little baby would never hunt” because the cat definitely has. But that’s old news, and I’m here to present another (probably already done) theory on why these cats cause problems, and that is a concept called “The ecology of fear.”

Ecology of Fear is a semi-recent concept coined by ecologists that talks about the indirect impact predators have on prey species. Basically, besides directly influencing prey populations by killing prey, there is a broader impact caused by just the presence of a predator that causes defensive changes in behavior. This change usually involves being much more cautious, meaning there’s more energy devoted to being alert and weary and less energy spent on growth and reproduction. There’s also less food consumed because the prey cannot spent large amounts of time in the open. So what does this mean for cats?

It means that even if your cat has less than one brain cell and doesn’t know how to hunt and is scared of grass like mine is, it doesn’t matter. Just the existence of a cat in the area causes local animals to chance their behavior, often with negative impacts for themselves. Birds and other prey species already have to deal with natural local predators, and adding the pressure of cats into the system tips the natural balance too far against the prey.

So please keep your cats indoors, both for their safety and the safety of local animals.

Sincerely,

An aspiring ecologist

(Also: if you’re interested in more details on the ecology of fear, a good documentary to watch is “Nature’s Fear Factor” on PBS. It’s about the reintroduction of wild dogs to Gorongosa Natural Park)

#cats #kittens #outdoor cats #cat lovers #ecology #biology #birds #outdoors #cats are babey but they do not belong outside #invasive species #nature