The village of Port-de-Seine, 50 kilometers from Paris, has imposed restrictions on the use of smartphones in public places amid concerns about people’s reliance on technology devices.
The village of 2,000 people held a referendum on the regulations and achieved a unanimous vote of 54%. Images of red-brick smartphones on streets, barbershops, shops and parks replaced advice to limit their use.
Smartphone use banned in village
The village of Port-de-Seine, 50 kilometers from Paris, has imposed restrictions on the use of smartphones in public places amid concerns about people’s reliance on technology devices.
They are also not welcome to use mobile phones while walking, sitting with friends in parks, restaurants and waiting for their children at the school gate. People who are lost are encouraged to ask others for directions rather than using Google Maps.
Port-de-Seine officials also approved regulations on the use of electronic devices in homes. Children should not use screens in the morning, in the bedroom, before bed or during meals. Families with children under the age of 15 should sign a written commitment to only allow their children to use cell phones that are capable of making calls only.
Mayor Vincent Paul-Pettit said he wanted to protect the village from the “intrusion” of technological devices. He believes that many people are addicted to their smartphones and cannot take their eyes off the screen.
“If someone has a habit of talking on the phone, they can break that habit and go out and say hello,” he said.
Ludivine, 34, a cardiac nurse and mother of two children aged one and four, supports the rules. “People spend too much time on their phones,” Ludivine said. “It’s a solution that raises awareness of its impact.”
Her one-year-old is not allowed to use technology, and my four-year-old is only allowed a quick glance at his phone before nap time. She pays attention to the communication between children and the external environment.
Angélique da Silva, manager of the restaurant Angélique da Silva in the village of Port-de-Seine, said that while she understands the importance of smartphones, she is unlikely to restrict their customers’ use.
“The younger generation disagrees because they grew up with different technologies than we did,” Angelique da Silva said.
Psychologist Noemi has an 8-year-old daughter. She said that after the regulations were introduced, she brought her daughter books and dolls to play with. She was praised by everyone for developing a habit of staying away from smartphones for her daughter.
But Merry Landouzy, a staff member who cares for children with disabilities, sees it differently. “Whether we like it or not, technology is the life of this generation,” she said.
Young people in the village complain that they do not have adequate facilities and making phone calls is a luxury. Adrien, 17, said he got the phone six years ago. Students use them to listen to music on the road and at school, and use GPS for navigation.
Faced with this situation, the mayor plans to arrange movie clubs, book clubs and sports clubs for teenagers.
“This is a generational thing,” said postal worker Jean-Luc Rodier. He is interested in artificial intelligence and chatbot applications. However, the man believes it should be restricted rather than banned.
His 20-year-old son Gabriel, who also works at the post office, objected.
“I use my phone five hours a day, which I think is a reasonable level of intensity,” he said. He also has the habit of reading books and believes that the knowledge in his hand (smartphone) is something that cannot be banned.