A lack of 'selfie control' has hit the headlines many times in the past as over enthusiastic national park visitors get too close to wildlife in order to try and get a good picture for their socal media feeds. The stories normally don't end well for the photographer or the animal.
Rather than simply blaming social media for this increasingly prevalent problem, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is taking a novel approach to keeping people and animals safe. The city’s tourism board is embracing social media to help visitors keep their boundaries in check with a new Instagram filter, fittingly called “Selfie Control”.
“Selfie Control is your reminder that viewing and taking photos of wildlife is allowed and acceptable, but staying the appropriate distance is more than a suggestion,” the board explains on the website. “It’s a requirement - for your safety and the safety of the animal.”
Here’s how it works: Visitors to parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone can search the filter on Instagram and scroll through animal options on their screen to identify the wildlife they’re looking at (an elk, a bison, you name it). If the animal appears bigger than the icon on the phone, the photographer is too close and needs to step back. Otherwise, they’re good to snap a pic!
When in doubt, Jackson Hole writes, “‘Getting the shot’ is not worth the risk to you or the wildlife, and a little self control can go a long way in Jackson Hole.”
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