Don't worry about the film selection on board

The in-flight entertainment program provided by the airline can generally be used on board without any concerns.
If you're watching something on your own device, that's probably fine too.
If someone around you is really uncomfortable with something you see—or if you are really uncomfortable with something the other person sees—it's okay to start a dialogue about it.

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Isn't it weird when you're watching a movie or TV show on an airplane and the characters on the screen suddenly start having sex? I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was a few months ago when I saw Sex and the City – the act is literally in the title of the show – but I assumed the airline would have censored anything that was even remotely offensive. So, as I tend to do, I had a brief existential crisis. Did I do something wrong? Should I have been ashamed of my life and my choices?

I always assumed that if an airline uploads content to the in-flight entertainment system, it would be easy to watch it. However, things can be a little more nuanced.

Who influences what you see on the plane?

Anything on the airline's in-flight entertainment program is allowed, and within reason, most of what a passenger downloads to watch on their own device is probably OK.

“In the world of etiquette, we have a duty to be mindful of those around us, and that includes being mindful of what we're looking at,” Nick Leighton, co-host of the Were You Raised by Wolves? podcast, told me. “It's a give and take. I don't want to go out of my way to embarrass you, and you shouldn't go out of your way to look at my screen, either.”

Even parents who travel for work agree that on an airplane, everyone can more or less choose their own adventure.

“Everyone has the right to watch what they want. They're paying for it just like everyone else. If I felt like they were watching something that explicit and my kids wouldn't stop, I might point it out to them, but I wouldn't say, 'You have to turn off your movie,'” Tavia Carlson, who runs the blog Big Brave Nomad, told me. She said her children, ages 9 and 7, and her toddler are usually distracted by their own devices or toys while traveling.

Should your choice of in-flight entertainment be influenced by the person sitting next to you?

No, but if someone around you is genuinely uncomfortable with something you see – or if you are genuinely uncomfortable with something the other person sees, it's okay to start a dialogue about it.

“If you as a passenger see the film and are disturbed by it, you can politely ask, 'I find the film a little disturbing, would you watch something else?'” Leighton said.

Emily Krause, a content creator who works under the name A Mom Explores, said it may not be ideal for travelers to view sexual or violent content around their children, but she doesn't think it's worth making a fuss about.

“I might cringe a little and just hope my kids weren't looking in that direction,” she told me. “I'm not going to ask anyone not to watch the show they're interested in just because we're basically on public transportation.”

Do airlines censor their in-flight films?

Another reason airline-approved entertainment is generally safe for use on board is that airlines have the ability to alter the content on their screens if it is truly offensive. The amount and type of content that is removed depends on a number of factors, including the cultural sensitivities of the airline's home region, the time constraints of the airline itself, and in some cases even the approval of the director and producer.

“Everyone has the right to see what they want when they pay for their tickets. I would like to see the airlines take the initiative here,” Carlson said.

Still, Leighton added, you should be able to freely watch most of the content you download to your own devices.

“I don't want to live in a world where we can only watch films rated 6+ on airplanes,” he said, but added: “We shouldn't go out of our way to watch something provocative. We shouldn't watch pornography on airplanes.”

How to be a considerate passenger

As with most etiquette rules, thinking about what you see on the plane is just another way to show respect for your fellow travelers.

“If I was sitting next to a six-year-old, I would definitely ask, 'Should I watch a really adult movie?' I would probably think twice,” Leighton said. “You can't tell a person's sensitivity by looking at them. You can't make generalizations.”

Otherwise, the experts agree, you should just keep to yourself. But airlines actually make it easier for you.

“Considering that in-flight entertainment requires headphones, that's probably half the battle,” Carlson said. “It's probably not going to get much interest from kids if they can't hear it.”

But even if your neighbors are more easily distracted, the rule still applies: “Do your own thing within reasonable limits.”

“I am personally responsible for my children and generally try to seat us in a way that my children are not sitting next to another adult. I think that is more comfortable for my children,” Krause said. “If we do sit and we have no choice but to get another adult, I am a big fan of everyone minding their own business.”

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. Reach him at [email protected].

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Don't worry about the film selection on board

Who influences what you see on the plane?

Should your choice of in-flight entertainment be influenced by the person sitting next to you?

Do airlines censor their in-flight films?

How to be a considerate passenger

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Don't worry about the film selection on board

Who influences what you see on the plane?

Should your choice of in-flight entertainment be influenced by the person sitting next to you?

Do airlines censor their in-flight films?

How to be a considerate passenger

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SC hits brakes on bulldozer justice: While SP welcomes move, a look at major demolitions in Uttar Pradesh

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