#planebae is a hashtag that has gone viral in the last few days. It has gained over 250,000 retweets and interactions. It is about an American couple who Tweeted about two strangers hitting it off in front of them in a plane.
The story started when Rosey and her boyfriend jumped on a plane but was not seated together. They asked for a woman to switch places.
The woman’s seat mate arrived and both of them seem to hit it off. Seated behind them, Rosey then started Tweeting about their love story which went viral.
The woman is referred to as Plane Girl. She never gave her consent for her story to be shared. People started looking for her online, trying to identify who she is. She felt ashamed and harassed as her personal information has been widely distributed. People have even started leaving nasty comments on her social media profile. She has now closed all her social media accounts.
The woman in this story feel she has been doxxed(an internet term which means giving out someone’s information without their consent). In a statement given to Business Insiders with her lawyer she said that this is not a love story but about ethics, privacy and consent.
Why you should talk to your child about #planebae?
Kids are growing up in a digital age where Live Tweeting and Live videos have become a way of life. But do our kids understand about privacy and consent to sharing other people’s information ? Rosey and her boyfriend clearly know no boundaries in this case.
Explaining the concept of consent to a child can be simple and clear, especially when it comes to taking pictures or using their image. Here’s how you can break it down:
Talk to an Adult: Encourage them to talk to you if they are ever unsure. “If you’re not sure whether it’s okay to take or share a picture, ask me or another adult you trust.”
“Ask First” Rule: Explain to your child that before taking anyone’s picture or using their picture, they should always ask permission. Say something like, “Before you take a picture of your friend, ask them if it’s okay.”
It’s Their Choice: Let them know that it’s okay for someone to say no. “If your friend says no, it means they don’t want their picture taken, and that’s totally fine. We should always respect their choice.”
Explain What Consent Means: Tell them that consent means getting someone’s permission for something. “If your friend says yes, that’s consent—they’ve given you permission to take the picture.”
Photos Are Personal: Make sure they understand that pictures are personal, and sharing someone’s photo is a big deal. “When you take a picture of someone, you’re capturing something about them. They might not want everyone to see it, so it’s important to ask if you can share it.”
Consent Can Be Taken Back: Teach them that just because someone said yes once, it doesn’t mean they can’t change their mind later. “If your friend said yes to the picture but then changes their mind, you should delete it if they ask.”
You Need Consent Too: Make sure they understand that the same rules apply to them. “If someone wants to take your picture, you can say yes or no. It’s your choice, and people need to respect that.”
Private Spaces Are Different: Explain that taking pictures in private spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms is different. “There are places where it’s never okay to take pictures, like in the bathroom or someone’s bedroom, even if they say it’s okay.”