This is being shared around like it’s cute, but in reality it’s the kind of invasive nightmare that makes you want to become a hermit.
Stuff you self disclose going viral has unintended consequences, now imagine someone documenting several intimate hours of your life unbeknownst to you for content. The poster couldn’t have known it would gain the momentum it did, but there’s a moral obligation to NOT DO THIS.
A vague tweet about switching seats with somebody and seeing them hit it off with their neighbor is harmless, a massive public thread shipping strangers like fictional characters is gross. Especially when people in the comments are already discovering the not-couples identities.
“I hope these attractive strangers get married and have babies. 230,000+ people anonymously weighing in on their potential is a perfectly healthy start to any relationship. No pressure, guys.”
I’ve deleted seemingly innocuous tweets before because people in the comments were crossing boundaries and attempting to identify the places and people involved. The threat of others taking unanticipated actions because of your content is REAL, especially if you encourage it.
I don’t think most who share these stories think anything of them. It’s a few minutes of feel good entertainment and you move on, but for the people actually involved there can be lasting consequences. Scrutinize your shares.
“The guy in the story said he’s fine with it.” He’s also a retired professional soccer player with an interest in being a public figure. The woman in the story is avoiding the media. And even if they’d both come forward, you couldn’t know they’d want the attention when posting.
The woman in the PlaneBae story came forward with a statement about her experience. It’s important that her words reach as wide an audience as the “feel good” story that inspired it. Think before posting without people’s consent, be critical about where viral content comes from. 
This isn’t an incitement to go after the original poster. She’s only a symptom of a much larger issue. This is a sincere request to consider the privacy of others before posting, sharing, and projecting onto their stories. To reject the reality TVification of reality itself.
