Miss Costa is not your average white shark. This marine creature was tagged and released off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the non-profit organization OCEARCH in 2016. But what sets her apart is her unique social media presence. With over 18,000 Twitter followers, Miss Costa is a digital sensation. Her oceanic whereabouts are tweeted regularly, marking her as a notable example of ‘digital nature.’
This narrative emerged from an innovative blend of animal tracking and social media practices. Every movement of Miss Costa, whether a deep dive into the abyss or a graceful surface skim, is meticulously recorded and then translated into captivating tweets that bring her life journey, narrated from her perspective. This innovative storytelling approach presents a new perspective on marine life, individualizing and sensationalizing the everyday movements of sharks.
But this digital narration does more than just entertain; it paints an anthropomorphized picture of Miss Costa, adding layers to her identity as a shark. The narration positions OCEARCH as a disruptor in traditional shark science, offering spectacular narratives about individual sharks’ preferences, biological tendencies, and relationships. This connection allows audiences to relate with sharks in a novel way through the lens of an interactive map, an app, and social media interactions.
Such portrayals have significant implications for how humans perceive and engage with nature. The narrative of Miss Costa is a socio-technical-ecological assemblage enabled by technologies like satellite trackers and smartphones and platforms like websites, apps, and social media. However, this convergence also prompts a critical question: To what extent can we decouple the emotional human-animal bond from the tentacles of consumerism and capitalism?
The narrative of Miss Costa, while appealing, is steeped in the language and ideology of branding and commodification. It depicts nature that fits within a branded, commodified cultural construct. It is a reality that must be acknowledged and critically examined for its long-term effects on conservation efforts and our understanding of the natural world.
Researchers should ask: Can we imagine a Miss Costa narrative without the influence of private brands, celebrities, and capital? How can digital nature steer clear of existing patterns of accumulation and injustice, and are there room for alternatives?
While there are nuanced implications of such digital nature assemblages, the case of Miss Costa underlines the need for a more authentic understanding of nature. As we progress, researchers in digital geography, political ecology, and related fields should strive to comprehend digital natures that reflect a more truthful representation of our world.
-Nathan Perisic
IG: @nathanvperisic
Read the excellent journal this news article is based on here: Science Direct