As more audience members hold up phones at concerts, Phoebe Bridgers' recent actions are pushing fans to create a different kind of concert experience.
Here's what to know
The New York Times reported Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has enacted a strict phone ban at her concerts. The phone-free setup has led some fans to document the show another way by drawing the stage and lighting by hand, as Futurism detailed.
One attendee on Reddit shared hand-drawn images from the show to r/PhoebeBridgers.
"Went by myself so figured I'd draw while I was there!" the original poster wrote. "Such a great concert, the lighting effects were so cool and also the way they used the dome thing on the main stage throughout."
Instagram user Boygeniusource (@boygeniusource) did the same and racked up thousands of likes. A commenter praised the post for being what they considered "boots on the ground journalism."
Another Instagram commenter said they had made similar sketches in the comments, and more viewers expressed interest in bringing pen and paper to future shows.
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Futurism added Bridgers' restrictions are not limited to smartphones. They also cover smartwatches and Meta's Ray-Bans in an effort to keep the focus on the music.
More background
Screens can block sightlines, distract from the performance, and shift the mood from a collective experience to individual content capture.
Futurism said cutting back on screens in schools has also changed behavior. Teachers say that students interact more and make new friends.
At some schools, the outlet revealed students have even filled downtime with older offline games like dominoes.
What's being done
Futurism noted that more artists require attendees to place their valuables in Yondr pouches, which are secure lockable fabric bags used in many phone-free settings.
At Bridgers' concert, the Redditor who drew the sketch praised the phone-free setup.
"Having no phones made all the lighting effects pop way more and people got their lighters out to wave them back and forth for the sad songs like in the olden days!" the OP exclaimed.
Where can I learn more?
Gen Z is contending with excessive phone use in different ways. At the same time, phones aren't the only pressing issue modern concerts face.
• Across Gen Z, regressing back to 'dumb phones' has become a way to cut screen time.
• After Beyoncé's Kansas City show, fans were all over the place trying to get home.
• At one festival, a recurring problem prompted fans to say it louder for the people in back.
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