Can you ever expect privacy in public? Coldplay kiss camera saga tells us a lot about the answer
In hours, the clip was just about everywhere. Endless memes, parody videos and photos of the pair's shocked faces filled social media feeds. Online sleuths rushed to identify who was on camera. Artificial intelligence and software company Astronomer eventually confirmed that its CEO and chief people officer were in fact the couple in the video — and announced the CEO's resignation over the weekend.
The incident's fallout has, of course, generated conversations about business ethics, corporate accountability and the repercussions that conflicts of interest among leadership can cause. But there are also broader implications at play in our increasingly online world — about the state of potentially being visible everywhere you go or tracked through 'social media surveillance.' Experts say it's more and more common for moments that may have been intended to be private, or at least reserved to a single physical venue, to make their way online and even go global today.
So in the era of lightning-fast social sharing and when cameras are practically inescapable, does being in public hold any expectation of privacy anymore? Is every experience simply fodder for the world to see?
Cameras are everywhere
It's no secret that cameras are filming much of our lives these days.
From CCTV security systems to Ring doorbells, businesses, schools and neighborhoods use ample video surveillance around the clock. Sporting and concert venues have also filmed fans for years, often projecting playful bits of audience participation to the rest of the crowd. In short, the on-scene viewer becomes part of the product — and the center of attention.
And of course, consumers can record just about anything if they have a smartphone in their pocket — and, if it's enticing to other social media users, that footage can quickly spread through cyberspace.
Ellis Cashmore, author of the book 'Celebrity Culture,' proposes that the rapid fame of last week's KissCam moment probably answers a question many have been asking for years: 'Is the private life still what it was? And the answer is, of course, there's no such thing as the private life anymore,' he notes. 'Certainly not in the traditional sense of the term.'
'I'm not sure that we can assume privacy at a concert with hundreds of other people,' adds Mary Angela Bock, an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media. 'We can't assume privacy on the street anymore.'
Some version of the KissCam has long been a staple at big events — from timeouts during sports games to romantic songs played by artists at their concerts. It's easy to miss, but most venues have signs to inform the audience that they could be filmed during the event. What's been different in more recent years, experts note, is how quickly those moments can travel beyond the physical space where they actually unfold.
That isn't only limited to what shows up on a jumbotron. Sometimes it only takes one person in the crowd to capture any interaction on their phone and post the video online — where it can zip around the world.
'It's not just the camera,' Bock says. 'It's the distribution system that is wild and new.'
Once something's viral, doxing often follows
Then there's the second ring of exposure — what happens after the video or photos spread.
Experts point to growing instances of social media users rushing to publicly identify, or dox, the people captured on camera — much like how quickly the internet committed to finding those involved in the Coldplay moment, for example. The LinkedIn pages belonging both to Astronomer's now-former CEO and chief people officer remained disabled on Monday, and The Associated Press could not reach either for comment.
But it isn't limited to company executives. Beyond someone simply spotting a familiar face and spreading the word, technological advances — including AI — have made it easier and faster overall to find just about anyone in an online post. This can happen with videos and photos shared on social media each day, even if it doesn't go viral, experts warn.
'It's a little bit unsettling how easily we can be identified with biometrics, how our faces are online, how social media can track us — and how the internet has gone from being a place of interaction, to a gigantic surveillance system,' Bock says. 'When you think about it, we are being surveilled by our social media. They're tracking us in exchange for entertaining us.'
And of course, such moments can also impact people who were not actually on camera. As easy as it can be to be identified online today, the internet is notorious for cutting a broad swath or not always getting it right. That sometimes produces harassment of individuals not actually involved.
At last week's Coldplay concert, for example, many social media users speculated that a third person seen near the two caught on camera was another Astronomer employee — leading to swarms of posts targeting her. But the company later confirmed that she was not at the event and said no other employees were in the video circulating online.
For the now-viral moment, 'we can talk about what's right and wrong, and whether they deserved it,' says Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. Still, it's a 'very frightening thing to get a lot of abuse and harassment online,' Taylor notes. 'There are real human beings behind this.'
It's hard to think that that these kind of viral moments will ever go away — and there are few legal restrictions to stop users from sharing clips of interactions recorded from anything from a concert to the street widely online. But on an individual level, Bock says it can be helpful to 'think before you share' and question whether something's really accurate.
'Social media has changed so much,' Bock says. 'But we really have not, as a society, caught up with the technology in terms of our ethics and our etiquette.'
___
Associated Press journalists Hilary Fox and Kelvin Chan contributed to this report.
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Year & Day's dinnerware set feels less like a runner-up and more like an equally compelling option, ... More winning on both value and color flexibility. Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence. No grand claims, no gimmicky marketing—just reliable dishes that do their job. That's what I got with this set. And at the end of the day, the fact that it wasn't trying to impress was precisely what made it so impressive. I found Amazon's dinnerware to be incredibly durable, functional and far better than you'd expect for the price. After months of daily use, including constant dishwasher cycles, I didn't witness a single chip or crack (I tested the 18-piece white porcelain set, which comes with six dinner plates, salad plates and bowls). 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To support the testing process, Lowin interviewed Dayna Isom Johnson, trend expert at Etsy, who offered insight into how shoppers can balance long-term durability with visual appeal when selecting a set. We prioritize up-to-date reporting; this article was last updated in July 2025. What To Consider When Shopping For Dinnerware Sets The best dinnerware sets strike a balance between beauty, durability and everyday function. These are the specific factors that matter most when deciding what to bring to the table: Size And Number Of Settings Think about how many place settings you need (typically 4, 6 or 8), and whether the dinner plates, bowls and mugs are appropriately sized for your eating habits and storage space. Consider the footprint of each piece, too: Oversized plates may not fit in compact dishwashers or standard cabinets. 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(And don't just assume they are, either; some bestselling sets are surprisingly high-maintenance. A quick glance at the fine print might save you.) Open Stock Availability Can you replace a chipped bowl later on, or add a few extra plates as your household grows? It's worth finding out upfront. Brands that offer open stock not only make it easier to build a flexible collection, but also typically treat dinnerware as a long-term offering rather than a limited-run design. This is also the model preferred by restaurants and caterers, who count on being able to restock pieces reliably over time. Overall, it's a good sign of durability and long-term availability for you, too. What Should I Look For When Buying a Dinnerware Set? Start with the material—porcelain, stoneware or bone china all offer a different feel. Next, look for a design that suits your style but won't feel dated after a few years. Practicality matters too: Make sure the pieces are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and consider whether the brand sells open stock so you can easily replace or expand your set over time. Is Porcelain Better Than Stoneware? It depends on what you're looking for. Porcelain is smoother, lighter and more refined, so it can be ideal for a modern, polished look. Stoneware, meanwhile, is heavier with a more rustic, handmade feel. But both materials are typically durable and dishwasher-safe (though stoneware may be slightly more resistant to everyday wear). It really comes down to your style and how you plan to use it. What Is The Most Durable Dinnerware Material? Stoneware and porcelain are both excellent options for durability, especially when paired with a high-gloss glaze. Glossy finishes help protect the surface from utensil marks and make the pieces easier to clean, while matte finishes (though beautiful) tend to show scratches and wear more quickly. Stoneware is also generally thicker and more chip-resistant, while porcelain is lighter but still strong.