Fighting the smartphone ‘invasion’: the French village that voted to ban scrolling in public
Fighting the smartphone ‘invasion’: the French village that voted to ban scrolling in public
Seine-Port is introducing restrictions on phone use in streets, shops and parks – but young people say there’s little else to do
Seine-Port is introducing restrictions on phone use in streets, shops and parks – but young people say there’s little else to do
A picture of a smartphone with a red line through it serves as a warning in the window of a hairdresser’s shop in a French village that has voted to ban people scrolling on their phones in public. “Everyone is struggling with too much screen time,” said Ludivine, a cardiology nurse, as she had her hair cut into a bob, leaving her phone out of sight in her bag. “I voted in favour, this could be a solution.”
Seine-Port, in the Seine-et-Marne area south of Paris, with a population of fewer than 2,000 people, last weekend voted yes in a referendum to restrict smartphone use in public, banning adults and children from scrolling on their devices while walking down the street, while sitting with others on a park bench, while in shops, cafes or eating in restaurants and while parents wait for their children in front of the school gates. Those who might check their phone’s map when lost are instead being encouraged to ask for directions.
The village has also approved a charter for families on children’s use of screens: no screens of any kind in the morning, no screens in bedrooms, no screens before bed or during meals. If parents of teenagers sign a written agreement not to give their child a smartphone before the age of 15, the town hall will provide the child with an old-fashioned handset for calls only.
No smartphones in the street, or parks or shops, whatever, it's their town.
This, however-
The village has also approved a charter for families on children’s use of screens: no screens of any kind in the morning, no screens in bedrooms, no screens before bed or during meals.
is ludicrous.
No smartphones in the street, or parks or shops, whatever, it’s their town.
Screw that. A town shouldn't have the authority to take away basic freedoms like that, even if literally every citizen directly votes in favor of doing so.
I disagree with the part about "if every single person votes for it ", if absolutely every single person votes for it, then that is the town they want. Why shouldn't they be able to have the town they want? Who are we to tell them they can't have the town they want? In my opinion even a super majority would suffice. By super majority I mean 70%-75%.
If it were just the city council voting on it then I'd have to look a lot closer at it, but again if the majority of the public wants it then why not?
Edit : as for the part about no smart phones in the bedroom or home, it also says if the parents agree to it, then the kids would get a free flip phone. It doesn’t say they can’t have it at all.
In the modern world where internet is necessary for a lot of things, what better way to equip future generations for the world outside of their village than to almost force computer illiteracy on them by 'banning' all computers (along with the bad grades they're likely to get for IT in schools as a result of that, putting off some future employers), so forward thinking
Once again- they aren't banned. This is an unenforceable ordinance.
I wish people would read the article... or at least read any other comments.
I got the impression that this part is a voluntary guidline
It's all voluntary. I just think the last part is especially ludicrous.
What a bunch of clowns. Nanny states never work.
At least
It is not enforceable by police – officers could not stop or fine people scrolling in the street
So long as it's an empty declaration with no enforcement, I actually think this town was kind of smart here. This is free viral advertising for their tourism industry that's going to appeal to a lot of parents.
This is the most, small french town thing ever. There is never anything to do in these places so the younger generation always leave literally because there's no employment opportunities unless you want to become a baker, in which case there are 80 different bakeries in a town with a population of 400.
So the kids go elsewhere and leave behind all of the old folk with nothing to do except curtain twitch. And you end up with dumb pronouncements like this. Looking at your phone is functionally no different to reading a book or a newspaper.
Is it an advertisement for Vision Pro?
Yeah let's go back to when kids had literally nothing to do and had to invent stuff. I'm sure that'll not cause any problems.
Ah yes, kids outside playing with friends and using their creativity to come up with things to do. That was such a dangerous time and all of us who grew up before mobile devices were everywhere are all in jail because we did stupid shit. Not to mention how unhealthy if was to be running around, biking, blading, etc out in the sun.
Yep, let's reinforce kids never getting any sun and spending all of their time living through their phones or pads and never really experiencing life in the moment.
This isn't just about the kids anymore though. Even gray hairs who grew up before we had even the motorola brick are watching entire concerts through their phone.
I'm not saying that I agree with the "state" trying to set those kind of limits. That's up to parents or other guardians. I remember when having a TV in your room was a privilege now even toddlers have iphones/pads that they scream and cry without.
yes, let's
Lmao
The ultimate goal of democracy is to allow people to organize themselves and their society in whatever way they see fit. If the enforcement (or lack thereof) of this law is not in strides with national law, I don't see the problem with this ordinance. It is a way of putting some more social pressure to the habit of smartphone usage in public spaces and the daily life of people in this town. People who don't follow through suffer literally no consequence, but I bet it will change habits for what the inhabitants of this town think it's for the better. Let them have this, I say.
I bet it will change habits for what the inhabitants of this town think it's for the better.
I don't know, this sounds like the sort of rule that's implemented by the same sort of people who are always in homeowners associations. A bunch of Karen's with nothing better to do except make random pronouncements about how everyone else should live their lives.
so no scrolling but you don’t have to scroll everything. playing games or watching youtube is fine i guess