Citizens of the Seine-Port commune in France approved a ban on the use of smartphones in public places in a referendum, reports daily.afisha.ru with reference to The Guardian. You can only use your smartphone for calls; viewing social media feeds is not encouraged.
The use of phones while walking down the street, relaxing in the park, in shops, cafes, restaurants, as well as by parents waiting for children at school, is now prohibited. To determine the route, instead of online maps, it is recommended to contact passers-by.
Parents who have signed an agreement not to provide their child with a smartphone under 15 years of age can receive a simple telephone with a call function from the mayor's office. One of the parents, 34-year-old Ludivine, who has children aged 1 and 4, believes that this is not an infringement of freedom, but a way to raise awareness of the impact of phones on people's lives: “Many children and adults are literally “stupefied” by screens, even babies in strollers scrolling through phones."
The initiative to ban smartphones received the support of 277 residents of Seine-Port, representing 20% of the voter list. The settlement is home to about 2,000 people. The administration is preparing France's first municipal decree regulating the use of smartphones. However, it is not yet possible to fine violators, since there is no law at the national level. Local authorities are asking establishment owners to place stickers on their doors with a phone number crossed out.
