The village bans the use of smartphones.

Recommendations to limit smartphone use are posted in front of schools in the village of Seine-Port.

The village of 2,000 residents held a referendum on the regulation and received a 54% approval rate. Images of smartphones marked with red lines were posted on streets, barbershops, stores, and parks as a recommendation to limit their use.

They also disapprove of using mobile phones while walking, sitting with friends in parks or restaurants, or waiting for children at school gates. People who get lost are encouraged to ask others for directions instead of using Google Maps.

Authorities in Seine-Port have also approved regulations on the use of electronic devices in the home. Children are prohibited from using screen devices in the morning, in their bedrooms, before bedtime, or during meals. Families with children under 15 will sign an agreement stating that their children will only be allowed to use phones with calling functions.

Mayor Vincent Paul-Petit said he wanted to protect the village from the "invasion" of technology. He argued that many people are addicted to smartphones and cannot take their eyes off the screens.

"If someone is in the habit of talking on the phone, they can end that habit and go outside to say hello," he said.

Ludivine, 34, a cardiology nurse and mother of two children aged one and four, supports the regulation. "People are spending too much time on their phones," Ludivine said. "This is a solution to raise awareness about its impact."

Her one-year-old is not allowed to use technology devices, and her four-year-old is only permitted to watch videos on a phone for a short time before naptime. She emphasizes her children's interaction with the outside world.

Angélique da Silva in the Terrasse restaurant in Seine-Port

Angélique da Silva, manager of the Angélique da Silva restaurant in the village of Seine-Port, said she is unable to restrict customers' smartphone use, even though she understands its implications.

"The younger generation disagrees because they grew up with technology differently than we did," said Angélique da Silva.

Noémie, a psychologist with an 8-year-old daughter, said that after the regulations were implemented, she brought books and dolls for her daughter to play with. She was praised for training her daughter to stay away from smartphones.

But Merry Landouzy, a caregiver for children with disabilities, thinks otherwise. "Whether you like it or not, technology is a part of this generation's life," she says.

Young people in the village are complaining that they lack basic amenities because mobile phones are a source of joy. Adrien, 17, says he's had a phone for six years. The student uses them to listen to music on the way to and from school, and uses GPS for navigation.

In light of this situation, the mayor has planned to set up film or book clubs, or sports clubs for young people.

"It's a generational issue," said Jean-Luc Rodier, a postal worker. He is concerned about artificial intelligence applications and chatbots. However, he believes they should be restricted rather than banned.

His son, Gabriel, 20 years old, who also works at the post office, objected.

"I use my phone for five hours a day, and I think that intensity is reasonable," he said. The young man also has a habit of reading and believes that knowledge at hand (on a smartphone) is something that cannot be banned.

TB (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ngoi-lang-cam-dung-smartphone-373007.html