Excessive Intimacy of Youth in Public
Not long ago, social media circulated a short video showing a young couple engaging in very affectionate actions, also known as “skinship,” in a café. This location is believed to be a crowded public place. The video went viral across forums. The 10-second clip garnered 2.1 million views, stirring public opinion with mixed reactions.
It wasn’t just a romantic moment; the footage was deemed “over the top” in broad daylight. The male figure performed actions that left viewers “blushing” and commenting in outrage. In the clip, he actively touched her body, sat closely, gazed at, and even buried his face in her sensitive areas, creating a distinct 18+ effect.
Recently, the public was once again stirred by a clip capturing two young couples casually exchanging excessive intimate gestures at a lemon tea shop.
Notably, the footage showed a kiss lasting nearly 30 seconds, causing many witnesses to blush and prompting the public to “question” the awareness of today’s youth regarding public decorum.
The clip quickly spread, attracting a flurry of mixed comments. The majority of netizens expressed outrage, believing the actions of the two couples were inappropriate, rude, and inconsistent with cultural norms. Many questioned why young people could openly display affection so excessively in a crowded place.
One account commented: “If you want to be in love, do it at home behind closed doors; doing this in public spaces is unacceptable.” Another opinion was more severe: “I don’t understand how parents and schools educate kids to behave like this in public. It’s truly beyond words!”.
However, alongside the criticism, there were a few voices claiming that this is normal; today’s youth express their affection more openly. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the actions of the two couples exceeded acceptable limits in a public space. A lemon tea shop, or any other public location, is a place where people come to relax and converse, not a venue for couples to display intimate affection overtly.
This incident not only reflects the generational differences in perspectives but also raises many questions about cultural behavior, changing perceptions of love, and the private space of youth in modern society.
Young people are constantly exposed to images and information from all over the world, especially through social media. Western culture, with its openness in public displays of affection, may have significantly influenced the perceptions and behaviors of a segment of Vietnamese youth. Romantic films and well-known couples openly displaying affection in public can create a model, a new norm for love and how to express it.
Furthermore, today’s youth grow up in a society with many changing moral and lifestyle concepts. The increased openness regarding love and sexuality may lead some young people to disregard traditional barriers in expressing affection. They may view public displays of affection as a natural expression of love, without any ill intentions or disrespect towards others.
Sometimes, behaviors like these are influenced by the surrounding environment. If a group of friends or those around them exhibit similar behaviors, young people may feel comfortable and easily “copy” them.
Witnessing excessively intimate scenes can cause discomfort, embarrassment, or even offense to those around, especially older individuals and children. This goes against the principle of minimal respect and courtesy in community interactions. Moreover, in some cases, publicly displaying excessive affection can make young people vulnerable to exploitation or become targets of unwanted intrusive behaviors. The lack of vigilance and awareness of self-protection in public can lead to unfortunate consequences.
While expressing affection is a natural part of romantic relationships, abusing it in public, sometimes just to “show off” or follow trends, can detract from the sincerity and true meaning of feelings.
The incident of two young couples displaying excessive intimacy at the lemon tea shop has sparked a necessary debate about the cultural behavior of youth in public. Personal displays of affection should be measured to avoid causing discomfort and affecting those around them. The boundary between personal freedom and community responsibility, between openness and respect, needs to be clearly recognized and harmoniously adjusted to build a more civilized and better society.