Overview

• The clip, posted September 18 by TikTok user @january_embers, has drawn more than 22.6 million views and shows a barracuda hovering close to the camera.
• The recorded encounter ends without an attack, and Newsweek says it has contacted the poster as it notes the footage has not been independently verified.
• Experts cited describe great barracuda as typically nonaggressive toward humans but capable of rapid, dangerous bursts of speed.
• A 2021 paper reported that barracuda attacks may be underrecognized and often involve provocation or attraction to shiny, reflective objects.
• Safety advice from conservation advocates includes avoiding jewelry or flashy swimwear, limiting splashing, and steering clear of sudden movements near these fish.