September 24, 2026

Report it to end it: How you can help end animal cruelty online with one easy step

Chimpanzees are not pets.

They are not here for our entertainment.

Images and content that suggest otherwise are dangerous.

Even when photos appear to be fun and cute – like when they show chimpanzees dressed in human clothes – they are very dangerous, because they can give people the impression that they can interact with chimpanzees. And that just isn’t true.

Social media enables animal lovers to connect with others online. However, the popularity of animal content has also given rise to this dark side, in which domestic animals and wildlife are exploited for the sake of engagement.

This content may seek to provoke outrage responses, or hide under some false “feel good” factor – that’s when the content looks fun and cute. Animal lovers engage with this content, not realizing that this actually causes further animal suffering.

Remember, animal cruelty online doesn’t always look like obvious violence.

Animal cruelty can include animals being deliberately frightened, teased, injured, exploited, or forced into unnatural situations — all for content. Animal cruelty can also be disguised as something entertaining, cute, or compassionate — the animal may appear calm, the video may look funny, or the situation may even be presented as loving or harmless.

The content may only be on your phone for two seconds, but what the animal experiences to create that content can last much longer.

So, what can you do to help? On social media, when you see photos and videos that show chimpanzees in unnatural settings or engaging in unnatural behaviours, report the content – but do not engage with the post! Engaging can make the post more popular.

Keep in mind that AI-generated content is just as dangerous as real photos and videos. When you see AI-generated content of any animal engaging in unnatural behaviours, hit the “report” button.

Let’s keep working together to address inappropriate and irresponsible content. Each one of us has an important role to play here, just as Dr. Jane said.