Locals vote to ban smartphone scrolling in public in French village
The village mayor said that the goal is to discourage mindless scrolling and reclaim public spaces for social interaction
Residents of Seine-Porte, a small village in Seine-et-Marne, just south of Paris, have voted to ban scrolling on smartphones in public spaces. Mayor Vincent Paul-Petit proposed the idea to reduce excessive phone use and encourage more face-to-face interactions.
The new rules, approved by a majority of the village’s 277 voters, stop people from scrolling on their smartphones while walking down the street, dining in restaurants, or lounging on park benches. Even parents waiting at school must follow the ban. Signs with a crossed-out smartphone now hang in local shops to remind people of the new rules.
“I’m totally in favor of this,” remarked Ludivine, a local resident and mother of two. “It’s about raising awareness of the impact of phones in our lives.”
The decision shows that people are choosing real-life connections over screen time. Now, you can see signs on local shops with a picture of a phone crossed out in red. This shows that the community is serious about the new rules.
In addition to restricting smartphone use in public spaces, the village has introduced a set of guidelines for families to manage children’s screen time. Parents who sign the agreement pledge to limit their children’s access to screens, with guidelines including no screens in the bedroom and no smartphones for children under the age of 15. To support this effort, the local town hall plans to distribute old-fashioned handsets that allow access to calls only.
“While some residents applaud the initiative for promoting alternative activities, such as reading or outdoor play, others are skeptical about restricting smartphone usage,” noted psychologist Noémie.
The debate over smartphone usage highlights generational differences within the community. While retirees like Jean-Luc express concerns about excessive phone use, younger residents like high school student Adrien defend their moderate usage, referring to educational benefits.
Responding to concerns raised by teenagers, Mayor Paul-Petit has pledged to introduce alternative activities, such as a film club, book exchange, and sports facilities, to provide engaging alternatives to smartphone scrolling.
Though the new rules are not enforceable by law enforcement, the village mayor said that the goal is to discourage mindless scrolling and reclaim public spaces for social interaction.
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