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 Angelique Chrisafis Angelique Chrisafis in Seine-Port @achrisafis Sat 10 Feb 2024 05.00 GMT
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.
Hoo boy. Nobody tell them about that new Apple computer you strap to your face and walk around in
Is that something like Google Glasses? I doubt they would care because in an augmented reality you’re still looking up at people and making eye contact, no? In which case this region will likely sell a lot of those.
I am sorry friend but no. It is a gigantic enormous metal and glass curved monster that you strap to your face. Then, you proceed to wave your hands around in the air all the time, while looking around furtively. If these backwards fucks don’t like people looking at their phones, who knows what they will think when they see somebody walking around apparently fully aware of their surroundings while wearing ski goggles and gesturing wildly in the air.