Adam Aron pointed out that contemporary young people are accustomed to watching movies and TV shows on smartphones. For many young people, asking them to turn off their phones during movie screenings is like asking them to lose an arm. Aron believes that theaters need to adapt to this trend to attract more young audiences to theaters to watch movies. He once said: "When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off their phone, they will feel that this is a denial of their lifestyle."
Decline in the number of moviegoers
In recent years, the number of moviegoers in theaters has decreased. In 2009, the number of moviegoers in the United States and Canada was 1.4 billion, but by 2015, this number had dropped to 1.32 billion. The rise of online video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu has enabled viewers to watch movies and TV series at home on computers, smartphones and tablets, reducing the need to go to theaters. Young audiences in particular find the requirement to turn off their phones in cinemas inconvenient and painful.
AMC's proposal and response
Adam Aron's proposal has sparked widespread discussion and controversy in the United States. Some people support the proposal as a good way to attract young audiences; but more people oppose it, fearing that the light from the phone screen will interfere with the viewing experience of other audiences. In addition, there is a risk of movies being pirated.
Despite these controversies, AMC ultimately decided to ban the use of smartphones during screenings. Although there was discussion of setting up special seats for smartphone users, this solution is not realistic.
Phone blockers as a solution
To address the problem of smartphone use, some people have suggested using phone blockers in cinemas. Phone signal jammers can block mobile phone signals and prevent audiences from using their phones during screenings, thereby ensuring a quiet and non-distracting viewing environment. However, such devices are illegal in many countries and users may face legal consequences.
Future Outlook
Although AMC and other cinemas currently ban the use of smartphones during screenings, viewing habits may change in the future. As technology develops and audience needs change, new solutions may emerge that allow audiences to use smartphones without disturbing others.
In general, how to balance the needs of the audience and the maintenance of the viewing environment is a major challenge facing cinemas. Through reasonable policies and technical means, perhaps a solution can be found that meets the needs of the audience without affecting the viewing experience.