Page 60 - Zenith2024

Zenith 2024

Humans and animals have affected each other for a long time. This interaction between
humans and animals has continued to these days and now, we can see animals in normal
life and easily find them in various media. If you are in a modern society, you may have
watched an animal video on YouTube to solve your stress problems. And you may have
become an online butler, too. Like this, people these days are interacting with animals in
new ways through ‘pet-contents’.

Let me ask you one question. What is this ‘pet-content’ which leads the new interaction
between humans and animals? Pet contents are pictures and videos that can be accessed
in our life easily. These have become popular because of the growth of the one-person
household due to COVID-19 and the increase in demand of companion animals. This
developed into today’s pet contents.

So why are people attracted to pet content? There are several factors. First, when we watch
pet contents, ‘Oxytocin’, which is called the ‘hormone of love,’ is secreted. Second, also pet
contents could make ‘Cortisol’ decrease. Cortisol is secreted when we struggle with stress
problems, but when we watch it, it could be easily control it. And finally, pet content can
promote social communication.
During COVID-19, the long-term social distancing made our minds and bodies depressed.
However, the appearance of panda Pubao, brought lots of positive effects. Pubao cured
people’s hearts and developed social interaction through the video from YouTube.
Like this, ‘pet contents’ gave positive effects to us in many situations. However recently,
not only good effects but also the bad tendencies have increased, specifically abusing pet
contents to get the economic profit.

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