Smartphone Camera Cover Policy in Nightclubs Sparks Division

This week marks the opening of a new nightclub that will implement a strict policy requiring smartphone cameras to be covered with a sticker. Amber’s, located in Manchester, joins a small number of other UK venues adopting this rule, a practice already standard in cities like Berlin, which is well-known for its vibrant nightclub scene. Jeremy Abbott, director of Amber’s, informed the BBC that the club’s decision stems from a desire for “we really want the music and the experience to be front and centre”. However, this matter is currently being discussed across social media platforms. On Instagram, some users expressed worries that such a policy might negatively impact clubs, as social media videos from nights out often serve as complimentary advertising. Conversely, others endorsed the initiative, describing it as “partying with privacy”. When the BBC inquired with young individuals in Manchester about their opinions on a no-camera-phones rule in clubs, one woman stated, “It is the fear of being put on the internet isn’t it?” She elaborated, “Being really drunk and that embarrassing picture of you ending up on Insta, waking up and seeing the events of last night.” A different woman commented, “It does make the vibe better, because the less people [are] on their phone, engaging more with the DJ and stuff, that’s the better environment to have.” This raises the question of whether British nightclubs are reaching a pivotal moment. Is this the opportune time to remove phones from the dancefloor and redirect attendees’ focus towards the music? Sacha Lord, who serves as the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, shares this view. He asserts, “These phones are killing the dancefloor, they’re killing the atmosphere.” Lord adds that “DJs hate it. To look out into a sea of phones and no-one’s dancing is really demoralising.” Smokin Jo, a DJ active since 1990, recalls the flourishing rave and club scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. She describes that era as, “Everyone’s got their hands in the air, there’s joy, there’s happiness.” In contrast, she observes, “Now there’s these videos being posted of people standing still with their phone in the air. It’s so sad,”. However, Dr Lee Hadlington, a senior lecturer in cyberpsychology at Nottingham Trent University, suggests that for some clubbers, “part of their enjoyment is to document their night in terms of photos and memories”. At Amber’s, a complete ban on phones is not in effect; instead, club-goers must place a sticker over their camera lens to stop photography. A dedicated content team will be present to capture and share photos online as an alternative. Abbott stated that individuals who violate this rule will be “politely asked to stop”. He added, “If you are seen doing it again, you will be asked to leave the venue.” This policy is introduced at a challenging period for Britain’s nightclub industry, which has faced difficulties in its recovery following multiple Covid lockdowns. Data from the Night Time Industries Association and research firm NeilsenIQ indicates that between June 2020 and June of the current year, the total number of clubs decreased from 1,266 to 786. Abbott acknowledges that Amber’s no-phones policy carries a risk but reports that the club has been “blown away” by the public’s reaction. Lord suggests that this policy might serve as a “shot in the arm” for the sector and “bring back the energy to the dancefloor”. Graeme Park, recognized as one of Britain’s most prominent DJs and a key personality from Manchester’s iconic Hacienda nightclub, stated, “I totally, totally understand and think that no smartphones on the dancefloor is a great idea.” He then added, “However, I’ve got a 20-year-old son. He makes music, he DJs, he goes clubbing and he’s like, ‘why’s your generation telling our generation we can’t use our smartphones?'” Ben Park, Graeme’s son, remarked, “Personally, I’ve got nothing against phones being in clubs. I understand the whole no phone policy but at the same time people want to post pictures of them or their friends on social media, people want to promote it online.” Nevertheless, he acknowledges why certain clubbers and DJs find “so-called TikTok ravers” irritating, explaining that they “literally go to events just to show that they’ve been there and just post it on TikTok,”. Cyberpsychologist Dr Hadlington suggests that for these clubbers, their motivation might stem from a fear of missing out on social media activity. He commented, “The paradox is they’re spending more time posting about it than they’re enjoying the good time,”. While this approach may be relatively novel in the UK, Berlin sees 90% of its venues enforcing a no-phones-on-the-dancefloor rule, as stated by Lutz Leichsenring, former spokesperson for Clubcommission Berlin and co-founder of VibeLab. He noted that with an increasing number of tourists visiting the German capital for its club scene, “I think people really appreciated that this policy was a part of clubbing”. Leichsenring also shared a personal observation, stating that for him, “it is very, very weird when I’m in a club where people around me take pictures and film the whole time”. Amber’s is implementing a policy identical to that of London nightclub fabric, which has been in effect since its reopening in 2021 post-Covid. Fabric itself has operated as a camera-free establishment since its inception in 1999, but its policy has been adjusted as technology evolved and smartphones became widespread. Cameron Leslie, co-founder of fabric, explained, “When people come in at the point of search, we put a sticker on the camera lens and just really sort of invite people not to use it, that’s all it is,”. He noted that most clubbers adhere to the regulation, adding, “It’s not an aggressive enforcement,” and “We have posters up in the club and then beyond that if people do use it and our team do see them we invite them not to.” Smokin Jo believes DJs themselves can initiate measures. She suggested, “Maybe DJs need to have a clause in their contract saying ‘I’ll do the gig but you need to have some sort of policy’ because we’re losing the identity of the scene and the roots of it.” Graeme Park, a fellow DJ, considers that there is no simple solution regarding smartphones in nightclubs, but he commented, “It is a really, really good thing that people are talking about it.” He concluded, “It’s the cultural zeitgeist changing and that’s the great thing about clubbing, the attitudes change every decade or every few years.”