Whether we admit it or not, most of us are addicted to our smartphones. We spend way too many hours using them. Sometimes we miss out important moments because we focus on our phones.
A Balinese luxury resort wants to prevent that. Ayana Resort and Spa has just banned calls, texts and social media around its River Pool. You can read more about the decision on their official website:
The ethos of River Pool is to create a place of tranquillity, where our guests can truly relax and be ‘in the moment’. To ensure River Pool remains a haven for guests we limit the use of mobile phones, cameras, iPads, and any other electronic equipment between 9am-5pm.
So during your time at River Pool we promise there will be no calls, no text, no pictures, and no social media – just you, River Pool and this moment!
You can still use your phones
While the rule is very strict when it comes to 9 am to 5 pm. However, this does not mean that guests won’t have a chance to capture the River Pool on their camera. Smartphones are allowed between 7-9 am and 5-7 pm.
We should also add that the Ayana Resort and Spa has four other pools. Therefore, if you think that you can’t bear to be separated from your smartphone, you can go visit any of the other pools.
This “digital detoxing” initiative is one that has gained popularity recently, and there have been similar campaigns. For example, in Vienna the campaign Unhashtag Vienna was created for the tourists. Their motto was “See Vienna. Not #Vienna. Enjoy the city behind your pics!”.
Such initiatives are appreciated. However, we cannot help but wonder if they are truly the solution to our mobile phone “addiction”. After all, previous generations were known for being glued to the camera around their necks whenever they visited a new location. It remains to see how things will evolve in the future.
Nora Reynolds is a major in biology and a minor in Biological Basis of Behavior, writing about science in general. She also likes to try new gadgets and sports about the AI new era.