Several years ago, I was boarding a plane to head back to New York City. The woman in front of me was on Facebook Live, detailing a disagreement she’d had with the American Airlines staff to anyone who would watch.

At one point, she and another traveler began arguing, all of which was recorded on the livestream. I vaguely remember thinking she had a point. But as she was detailing her frustration, she panned the camera on my face and asked me how my day was.

In the moment, I was too stunned to say I didn’t want to be in her video, or to simply put my hand up in front of my face. I simply responded to her question, then quickly scurried ahead to board the aircraft.

Living in the city, I’m constantly reminded that I could end up online at any point. I speed up on the street when I walk past someone taking a vertical video of themselves. I avoid the flash of iPhone cameras when I’m out at a bar. I notice when I’m at a coffee spot, and someone holds up their phone to record their hand reaching for their drink, a surefire sign of an influencer.

But not everyone is in the constant headspace to notice these things. I often come across videos online of unhoused people on the train, people having mental health crises or those who are otherwise acting outside the confines of what we have deemed “polite society.” A recent viral video of two people kissing in Central Park quickly led to the couple’s identification as lawyers at the same firm engaged in an act of infidelity.

It’s an ick, for sure. It’s also a symptom of the larger........

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