Opinions are divided on whether phones should be strictly prohibited in public spaces such as libraries, shops or public transport. I believe that such a ban is unnecessary and is problematic.
Granted/ Admittedly, one might argue that phones should not be allowed in public areas. This is predicated on the assumption that the use of phones could annoy other people. A good example is that the sound of someone talking on the phone or their notifications could distract people who are trying to study in a library. However, this problem can be resolved without prohibiting the use of phones completely. A simple measure is to ask people to not to answer a phone call in the library or to ask them turn on the vibration mode. Furthermore, it would also be difficult to enforce a ban on phones in public places, as it would require an unimaginable amount of manpower to make it work. It is unthinkable to have a police officer in each bus journey to enforce the law.
In my opinion, allowing people to use phones in public areas is beneficial in many ways. For example, when people are reading a book in a library, and encounter a problem, they can do a search on the Internet to find related materials to confirm or invalidate a piece of information. Similarly, when going shopping, people can make a payment easily by using certain digital wallets. This allows them to not keep too much cash on them, and so they are less prone to burglary. An indisputable benefit of using phones on a bus is that people can pass the time by watching videos on platforms like Facebook or Youtube or watching movies on movie streaming services like Netflix. Lastly, people can quickly contact their friends or family or the police in emergency cases.
In conclusion, banning phones in public areas is neither necessary nor plausible. Instead, people should pay attention to their use so that they do not disturb others.