Here we have yet another manufactured moment crafted for sensational headlines, leaving us to wonder: what were the intentions behind this story? A child nearly being chased by a bison at Yellowstone—sure, it makes for exciting video, but let’s not forget the real story being spun by networks like CNN and NBC. They’re not just reporting; they’re gaslighting viewers into thinking nature itself is more unpredictable than a toddler with a sugar rush.

These outlets are quick to capitalize on fear. They churn out narratives that suggest every trip to a national park is a life-or-death situation, ignoring the fact that wildlife behaves in expected ways. The real story here is about parental oversight. Where was the adult supervision? Instead of a cautionary tale about how to handle bison encounters, we get a sensationalized clip that serves to distract from real issues—like how government mismanagement affects our national parks.

Fox News will likely jump into the fray, possibly framing this as part of a broader “wildlife threat” narrative, which serves to divert attention from more pressing concerns, like climate policy and habitat destruction. At the end of the day, this is less about a child’s peril and more about how corporate media exploits human fears to pump up viewership and ad revenue.