Viral threats: the role of TikTok in facilitating trade in CITES-listed species in Lomé, Togo
Overview
Paper Summary
Researchers analyzed 80 TikTok videos from Lomé, Togo, documenting the online sale of wild meat, including endangered species like the pangolin. The videos, viewed nearly 1.8 million times, highlighted the platform's role in facilitating this trade and raising conservation and animal welfare concerns.
Explain Like I'm Five
People in Togo are using TikTok to sell wild animals for meat, including endangered ones. This is bad for the animals and could spread diseases.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This study provides valuable insights into the emerging use of social media for wildlife trade, raising important conservation and animal welfare concerns. While the limited sample size and reliance on visual species identification are weaknesses, the findings contribute significantly to understanding this growing threat. The high number of views and engagement with the videos highlights the potential impact of this trade. The methodological limitations prevent a 5 rating, but the study's novelty, important subject matter, and implications warrant a 4.
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