Should banning phones at live shows become the norm?

Artists and comedians are using new technology to prevent fans from video-recording at concerts. Aside from keeping the performance exclusive to ticket-buyers, the goal is to encourage attendees to enjoy the moment without distraction — but is it a good idea?

Going to a live show is a privilege, not just because it can cost upwards of £100, but because actually securing a ticket is difficult when the demand and resale market for them is incredibly large.

So it’s only natural that when spectators get a chance to see their favourite artist, band, or comedian in person, their first instinct is to yeet their smartphone high into the air to snap a photo or video.

Motivations for doing so are varied, from preserving memories of the experience within the permanence of the digital realm to sharing content with fanbases on social media.

In recent years though, artists have slowly started to push back on these behaviours.

Following in the footsteps of musicians such as Alicia Keys, Silk Sonic, and comedians like Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, Beyoncé opted to ban the use of cell phones at a recent…