'Put your phone down': K-pop band weighs in on concert etiquette
K-pop band Cortis is encouraging fans to stop filming concerts on their phones to foster a more direct connection during live performances. While some fans appreciate the sentiment, others argue that recording is essential for preserving memories of the experience.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between digital consumption of live events and the desire for authentic, present-moment engagement in modern fan culture.
Image source, Imazins via Getty Images Image caption, Boyband Cortis has consistently urged fans to ditch their phones and engage with them directly
Kicking off their global tour in the South Korean city of Incheon, the five members of K-pop boy band Cortis saunter onto stage in casual, streetwear-inspired outfits, exuding an effortlessly cool vibe.
"Put your phone down," one of the members bellows. Piercing screams erupt. A sea of illuminated screens flickers back.
"I told you, put your phone down," he repeats, louder this time.
Some fans do just that, but the packed stadium vibrates harder with cheers as thousands of phones stay in the air.
It's hard to say how serious this theatrical command is.
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