#dontuseyourcellphoneduringthemovie

One of my favorite activities to do is go to the movie theater with my friends and watch the latest films that have come out. Whether they be award-nominated prestige pictures, superhero flicks, or rom-coms, the theater-going experience is always fun.

However, lately many theater-goers have been choosing to use their cell phones during the film, taking no consideration of the other people around them and ruining the movie-watching experience. While I do understand that sometimes there are emergencies, oftentimes these unmindful individuals will be texting, taking pictures of the big screen or using social media without even attempting to shield the bright light that their cell phone is emitting in the dark.

The other day, I went to go see Black Panther and on two separate occasions after the movie had already started, people came in using the blinding flashlight on their phones to search for empty seats in the auditorium, thoroughly distracting the packed audience who was trying to pay attention to the story. This type of cell phone use irritates the life out of me. Many of us pay money to enjoy the film whose release we have anticipated for a long time, only for the viewing experience to be spoiled by inconsiderate cell phone users. That is why I have decided to create my own hashtag movement, #dontuseyourcellphoneduringthemovie. If you put away your phone when the movie starts, you not only prevent the annoyance of the audience members around you, but you also enhance your own viewing experience since there are no distractions that could divide your attention from what is going on on the screen.

Being able to disconnect for two hours and appreciate the film that you have paid to watch is something that I believe everyone should do.