Jack White is following a slew of musicians in encouraging fans at his shows to put down their cell phones.
But White is taking it a step past encouragement: fans at his upcoming shows will not be able to access their cell phones during his concerts.
They will be forced to put their phones in Yondr pouches.
When a phone is locked into a Yondr pouch its owner cannot access it inside a certain area.
In this case, the restricted areas will be inside concert venues White performs at.
Jack White (pictured) will not allow fans at his upcoming concerts to use their cell phones. Fans at his upcoming shows will be forced to put their phones in Yondr pouches
If a user needs to access their phone due to an emergency, they will have to leave the venue to take their device out of its Yondr pouch.
The cases are picking up steam in classroom and entertainment venue settings alike.
Comedian Dave Chappelle made Yondr bags a mandatory requirement at his stand up shows.
Chappelle told CBS that he adopted the no cell phone rule at his own shows because the devices have become a distraction for his viewers.
White is the latest in a string of performers enforcing the use of Yondr pouches (pictured) at their shows. The pouches lock and will not allow users to open them within entertainment venues
Musician Childish Gambino also enforced the use of the the pouches at his shows. Yondr’s website quotes him as saying: ‘I wanted to give people an experience. I think telling people to put their phones away really forces a person to be present.’
In addition to performance settings, Yondr pouches have been used in classrooms to keep students’ focus on their schoolwork.
In 2015, a school in California announced that students would be forced to put their cell phones in the bags during class.
Comedian Dave Chappelle (left) has also enforced the use of Yondr pouches at his shows, as has rapper Childish Gambino (right)
HOW DO CELL PHONE BANS WORK AT LIVE PERFORMANCES?
Jack White, the former lead singer of the White Stripes, announced recently that his upcoming tour will be ‘cell phone free’.
White plans to have his fans lock up their phones in Yondr pouches as they enter a concert venue.
The pouches function similarly to theft-proof tags on clothing items in department stores.
They cannot be unlocked inside certain areas.
If users need to make an emergency call they’ll have to step away from the venue to access their phone.
Highlighted in green is the area in which cell phones can be locked and unlocked
The encircled area will be ‘cell phone free’, meaning people in the area will not be able to unlock Yondr pouches holding their cell phones
Concert goers will be able to use their phones in the area highlighted in green on this map
Yondr’s vision says: ‘Smartphones have fundamentally changed how we live. How to integrate them into our lives as a useful tool, rather than a compulsive habit, is a question that needs an answer.’
According to NBC News, a statement released by White about the new requirement said: ‘We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON.
‘For those looking to do some social media postings, let us help with that. Our official tour photographer will be posting photos and videos after the show.
‘Repost our photos and videos as much as you want and enjoy a phone-free, 100 percent human experience.’