French village bans mobile phones

No phone use for French villagers - 1st April 2024

In Seine-Port, a village near Paris, after a local vote there's now a new law. People aren't allowed to look at their smartphones in public places, such as parks. It's to encourage people to talk more.

The ban on smartphone use is for adults and children. Cafes and restaurants have put up signs to stop smartphones. They can refuse to serve customers who are using their phones. Posters outside the local primary school ask people to put their mobiles away. And if you lose your way in town, you can't use your smartphone to help. You have to ask a person for directions!

Seine-Port's mayor, Vincent Paul-Petit, explains that the ban isn't because smartphones are bad. The law asks users just to pay attention to their use. He hopes people will start speaking to one another and be sociable. He also worries that screens can be dangerous for adults and children.

Not everyone agrees with the ban. For young people like Gabriel, 20, it'll be a challenge because, "You can't ban knowledge at your fingertips."

Scientists have shown that smartphones are bad for the body – one's eyes and back, for example. It isn't fully clear if they're also bad for a person's social skills.