British artist Fred again.. has made good on a promise to give concert attendees access to a Dropbox of videos and photos from his USB002 tour after discouraging the use of phones at the gigs — and the pics are so much better for it (just take a look at the example above).
Yes, there is the odd glowing phone screen being waved around that cuts through the otherwise tech-free crowd of people — concert goers only had to cover their smartphone lenses with a sticker — but it hardly takes away from the wider message it's making about being present and enjoying the moment.
Encouraging people to connect and enjoy shared experiences has become a growing cultural movement off the back of social media bans and digital detoxes. Data from online ticketing platform Eventbrite shows there was a 567% increase in phone-free experiences in 2025, with 49% of Gen Z and Millennials saying they want less curation and more real moments.
There’s no denying that those opposed to phone bans are often the loudest. You don't have to go far to see them, crowding out front of a trendy cafés, tourist spots, or street art backdrops. That need to document the experience, which seems to be as important as the experience itself for social currency reasons (see the Reddit thread below for an example of the sort of arguments that are made for it), is exactly why some venues are now taking a firmer stance on smartphones.
Thoughts on the sticker policy from r/fredagain
While no-phone policies have long existed in places like Berlin clubs or certain tourist attractions, stricter rules are becoming more common elsewhere, too. From proposed smartphone restrictions in UK schools to bans in places like Indian tiger reserves, it’s clear concerts aren't the only spaces where people are reconsidering the role of screens.
Would you go to a phone-free concert? Have your say
I was most recently reminded of the no phone movement at Ronnie Scott’s, the famous jazz bar in London, where I was told no photos were allowed. As someone who doesn't feel the need to document every moment of my life but loves photography, especially for capturing big life events, I was slightly gutted I couldn’t take a picture for a friend’s birthday.
Of course, I could have brought something more discreet like Meta Ray-Bans to sneak a shot (not that I own a pair) or simply snapped a pic outside on my film camera, but that raises another question entirely: should there be exceptions?
Where does this all leave us? Should gigs be fully phone-free? Should there be exceptions? Or are we already too far gone to meaningfully reverse course? Let me know what you think in the comments below, and vote in our poll below.
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