Glastonbury 2025 ignited a fierce debate on r/glastonbury_festival over the surge in mobile phone use, spotlighting fresh tensions about connectivity versus presence.
With vastly improved phone signals and a fully functional festival app, attendees found themselves scrolling, filming, and livestreaming more than ever—even during monumental sets like The Prodigy. Longtime fans lamented this shift, seeing gadgets steal focus from the immersive, tech-free spirit Glastonbury once championed.
The thread revealed polarized perspectives:
- Pro-phone users noted younger fans engaging differently—more phone use but also active singing along, especially at acts like Olivia Rodrigo.
- Traditionalists applauded artists like Fatboy Slim urging fans to put phones away to reclaim the live experience.
- Many supported moderate phone usage for quick photos or clips but condemned extended filming and the "phones held high" blocking views phenomenon.
Some festivalgoers adopted creative solutions like bringing “dumb phones” to minimize distractions and increase mindfulness.
Others called for tolerance, reminding the community everyone paid to enjoy Glastonbury on their own terms—whether scrolling, filming, or soaking it in phone-free.
This discussion mirrors a wider cultural crossroads for major festivals: embracing connectivity’s conveniences alongside preserving the collective, in-the-moment magic that defines legendary gatherings like Glastonbury.
With phone service only improving, the clash over mobile use won’t fade anytime soon. Festival culture must grapple with evolving tech realities if it hopes to keep that extra chill vibe alive.
Source: r/glastonbury_festival