Music opinion: Have phones killed the concert experience - and should they be banned?
In the digital era, with social media at the height of our connections, the desire to capture every moment is at the tip of our fingers.
But what for? Proof to everyone else that we’re having a good time?
This problematic issue has been particularly prevalent across TikTok, writes Music News Blitz’s Emma Corrigan.
Lack of crowd enjoyment
After more British influencers attended this year’s Coachella, the common theme was a lack of enjoyment among the crowd, with footage showing people just standing and recording, barely singing, rather than being in the moment and actually enjoying the live music.
As a result, more celebrities have begun to discourage the use of phones at concerts, providing bags to put phones in, and, at raves in the UK, even covering the camera lens with a sticker.
After an interview with Timothee Chalamet in 2023 (The Graham Norton Show), in his preparation for the role as singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown, he spoke about how the concert he attended became more of an immersive experience and that handing in your phone before the concert “obliges you to be present.”
Harry Styles’ no phones allowed show
Since then, other artists have picked this up, including Harry Styles.
Celebrating his fourth album, he performed at Co-op Live in Manchester for “One Night Only” in March 2026.
As this was being streamed later on Netflix, it helped to protect exclusive content and prevented any footage from being leaked.
Instead of phones, attendees were encouraged to put their phones away, and were given a disposable camera.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Taylor Swift's 2026 AMA results spark debate among fans
‘Better’ without phones
Singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter also said she would consider banning phones at her concerts.
In an interview with the New York Post, she expressed that after attending a no-phone concert herself, she “never had a better experience at a concert.”
Whilst we want to keep these memories, can you even say you experienced it if it was all consumed through a screen?
In comparison to previous generations, not having a phone to record everything meant that there was no need for proof of a good time, and looking perfect.
Because of this, smartphones do create a barrier between the concert and the experience, with ‘how it looks’ being the sole priority.
And if phones continue to be discouraged, the pressure to capture the perfect footage reduces social media expectations, going from documenting it to experiencing it, with just a couple of photos from a disposable camera to look back on.
READ NEXT: Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” Cadillac up for auction
