PDA: Endearing or Embarrassing?
By Srihita Madiraju Nov. 13, 2024
Navigating through the school hallways, simply trying to reach your next class and seeing couples everywhere holding hands, hugging and even kissing one another seems to be another reminder of how love seems to be in the air for everyone—except you. Despite the loneliness it can provoke, public displays of affection (PDA) are
often acceptable to a point, yet anything overtly sexual should not be in public places like school. Although seemingly harmless to the couples themselves, most onlookers simply would rather go on about their day without witnessing a scene straight out
of “The Notebook.” However, it is critical to note that many teenage couples that lack private spaces to express their affection have legitimate reasons behind their PDA: school can be their only opportunity to see each other.
“I see why students who do not have anywhere else to see each other and be intimate would rely on school for that, but I think they should still be more mindful because this is an educational setting and there should not be so many distractions.” Junior Ava Fard said.
Regardless, in most cases school should not be considered a substitute for intimate settings. Educational environments reserved for their proper use and widespread inappropriate behavior in a learning environment can often contribute to distractions
and decrease students’ quality of learning. Nobody wants to witness their classmates making out and feeling each other up on their way to class or while they look outside
the window in Spanish class; that should be reserved for behind closed doors.
Social media can contribute to PDA, too, as couples post intimate content as a means of expressing their affection. Still, there are limits; this is a large difference between a sweet picture of a couple and an overtly sexual one. It should be taken into consideration as to who will be viewing one’s posts and if it may make viewers uncomfortable. Scrolling through Instagram on Valentine’s Day or National Girlfriend Day, cringing at the endless confessions of love or paragraphs for one’s significant other, it almost makes users want to delete the app for the rest of the day.
Witnessing PDA can raise questions as to whether or not it is even legal. Although the school’s handbook does not clearly state whether or not PDA is allowed, according to the First Amendment everyone is given a right to express themselves. Acts of affection fall into the category of free expression, absent indecent exposure, of course.
“I have never had much of an issue with PDA since I am used to it as it is so normalized in Korea. At this point, I am unphased by it,” Senior Seojoon Lee said.
Students should be able to express themselves, but being mindful regardless of the rules set in stone around them is critical, and ultimately comes down to personal judgment. If someone is being overly touchy in front of an audience in school it is up to them to realize how uncomfortable it is for everyone around them. However, it is unfair to view PDA as entirely unbecoming or indecent because it all lies in the intensity and the surrounding context. If a display of affection is truly that bothersome to the viewer, the solution may be to simply look away.
About the Contributors
Srihita Madiraju
staff writer
Srihita Madiraju is a Junior at Leland High School and a staff writer. She enjoys reading and writing and this is her first year in journalism. She enjoys dancing, going to the beach, and hanging out with her friends.
Yunseo Kim
artist
Yunseo Kim is an artist. She enjoys trying out new art and this is her second year in journalism. Outside of school, she likes to do Taekwondo, and experiment with cooking.
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