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Fighting the smartphone ‘invasion’: the French village that voted to ban scrolling in public (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
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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.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago

Being rude to people if they use a phone is not banning it. A ban has legal backing. They cannot legally confiscate your phone no matter how long you stand right in the center of town staring down at it.

And if someone took the phone out of your hand, they would be in legal trouble for stealing.

This is simply not a ban.

this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2024
150 points (95.7% liked)

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