LaKeisha Fleming is a writer, author, and motivational speaker who specializes in writing about mental health, miscarriage, and parenting issues. She has recently shared her experience during a flight when she and her son were exposed to a nude sex scene on-screen. In an essay published on Insider, Fleming said that, during a flight, she had to shield her son‘s eyes from a nude sex scene on-screen. “
The airline told her next time she should just change seats.
“Inside of a long distance new airplane with passengers sitting and resting during a long flight with a picture taken from the back of the airplane,” she wrote.
Fleming was flying with her son for his national speech competition and was ready to watch some shows in flight. “In the row in front of us, I saw someone watching an explicit sex scene on the airplane screen. When I complained to the airline, it told me to change seats if it happened again.”
Read below the main topics from the article:
Horror
In April, my 15-year-old son was competing in a national speech competition. We had our snacks and books, and because our seats had screens, I knew we could laugh at our favorite shows. I thought I was ready.
What I was not ready for was having to shield my son’s eyes from an explicit nude sex scene.
I started looking through the options for in-flight entertainment. As I looked at my screen, I could see the one in the row in front of me. I saw a nude sex scene in clear view. To be clear, this was not a passenger’s personal device. This scene was playing on the seat back, with the airline providing the entertainment.
I was shocked. That shock turned to horror as I realized the scene was in clear view of my son sitting right next to me.
Contacting the airline
Once the sex scene ended, I went to the flight attendants to ask for help. They offered to move our seats. Even then, they said, someone else could play that same content. In essence, there was nothing they could do.
I contacted the airline. When I emailed the airline’s executive office, I pointed out that at least one study found a correlation between adolescent exposure to sexually explicit content and risky sexual behavior in emerging adults.
Despite this, the response I received from the airline’s seat-back-entertainment team was the same as on board — if it happens again, change seats. [Editor’s note: Insider viewed the airline’s response email.] This response does nothing to address the content being available in the first place.
What parents can do
Whether on a plane or in another context, you need to have a plan in place.
Parents can take activities on board for kids. From coloring books and toys for younger children to electronics and books for teens, diverting their attention from the screens around them can help.
But airlines also have a responsibility to all customers, including the youngest and most vulnerable.
Airlines have responsibilty
Airlines also have a responsibility to all customers, including the youngest and most vulnerable.
US airlines have the choice to edit their TV shows and movies so they were appropriate for general audiences. In such close quarters, where screens are clearly visible to people in the surrounding area, this would be a responsible and ethical option and one they should reconsider.