Biologists have not been slow to express their disapproval and alarm at the famous ‘army of frogs’ promoted by tiktokers, as it can be a very serious environmental problem, and they call it “ecoterrorism”.
While the Tik Tok social network has introduced many exciting trends, from cleaning hacks to fashion styles, the latest trend of relocating animals, such as frogs and ladybugs, and releasing millions of these creatures into non-native habitats is putting ecosystems at risk. .
In early 2022, a TikTok user named thinfrog began posting videos of frogs in a wading pool near his home. Apparently, he began “rescuing” tadpoles from drying up local ponds and relocating them to his own backyard to create a so-called frog army. “This is the biggest frog army in history, but now I regret it because no one can go to the garden,” said thinfrog in one of his videos.
He later went on to say that he hoped to build “the largest frog army in history” . The frog army hashtag (#frogarmy) on TikTok has millions of views, and users have been recording themselves picking up tadpoles or eggs and moving them into backyard pools and ponds since at least 2021. Something that, by all accounts, can be harmful to the environment.
Since the video’s release, @thinfrog has amassed millions of followers in just a few months.
When videos go viral, the platforms’ 1 billion monthly active user base ensures extremely wide reach. The popularity of the application means that in this case, a dangerous wave for nature is promoted, a domino effect that can drive certain populations to extinction.
Just thinking about it gives us chills.
