February 6 is World Cell Phone Free Day. But, who is behind this initiative? Behind this event hides a 56-year-old French writer. He told us the amazing story of his day without “mobilou”.
” When I started this day in 2001, you could take it as a hoax smiles Phil Marso. On the other side of the handset, this French author of detective novels tells us how he had the idea, more than twenty years ago, to create the world day without mobile phones. It is celebrated on February 6.
Like many “days of”, this date seems to have become institutionalized. Several media devote articles to it, providing advice for disconnecting or testifying to an extreme experience: going without your smartphone for 24 hours. However, this day was not established by the United Nations, the World Health Organization or an association. Phil Marso is the sole organizer.
“It’s the story of a killer who kills people who have a cellphone”
We are in 1999. Phil Marso, bookseller and author of detective novels, begins to publish humorous thrillers in which he addresses health issues. He then attacks the mobile phone in a book entitled Cell phone killer with no apparent motive.
” It’s the story of a killer who kills people who have cell phones. The plot takes place in 2001… It is in a way a novel of anticipation “, sums up Phil Marso. This scenario, invented while the mobile phone is taking off, makes him want to prolong the reflection. The idea of a mobile-free day arises in his mind.
The date to choose quickly seems obvious to him: it will be February 6, Saint Gaston’s Day. Phil Marso thus winks at Nino Ferrer’s song called The Telephone (1967) and famous for these words: Gaston there’s the phone that’s ringing / And there’s never anyone who answers it “.
” I am not anti-mobile, explains Phil Marso. My intention is not to encourage you to switch off your mobile during these days. I just wanted to provoke a start of reflection, as the mobile phone began to become an important phenomenon. “, he assures us.
Four months before the deadline of February 6, 2001, Phil Marso is committed to preparing for the first day without a mobile phone. He tries to flood many media, French and foreign, with his press releases sent by email. To his surprise, his initiative seems to find a first echo in Canada.
In 2003, the creator of the day without telephone filed his trademark with the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property). It is now owned by MEGACOM-K, a structure founded in 2003 by Phil Marso.
A different theme each year
Since then, the author of thrillers has offered a different theme each year: driving safety (2003), communication awards (2011), “adikphonia” (2013) – to designate nomophobia –, the climate (2015)… his site mobilou.info (yes), Phil Marso accompanies the various editions with advice, mainly addressed to the youngest, and challenges for, for example, “ no longer be bored without your smartphone at recess “.
The creator of the day without mobile is delighted to see his initiative popularized over the years. ” For 4-5 years, the world day without smartphone has become an anchored appointment “, assured us Phil Marso in 2019.
From now on, it organizes its communication each year, to prepare the various editions of the days without mobile phone – extended to 3 days since 2004. In 2023, it is the 23rd edition. Phil Marso often chooses to tackle themes that he himself deems provocative.
In 2019, when Numerama met him, the theme was: ” Has the Idiocracy rung? », with a poster used to promote the day. A cat, wearing a hat and surrounded by a buoy, nibbles on a donut. He is holding his mobile phone in one paw, which captures a selfie of his holidays by the sea. The 2023 edition is named ” The smartphone: does it save lives? with a mobile slipped into a lifeline on the poster.
Looking for partnerships
On his Facebook page, Phil Marso notes articles inspired by his event, which do not always mention his origin. On the telephone, the author also regrets that his day devoted to ” mobile “, as he calls them, aroused reluctance, especially during the first years of his existence. How does he explain it? ” I am alone and I have not created an association. It’s because I didn’t want to be associated with the laptop fundamentalists. he tells us.
Phil Marso specifies that he is however not opposed to the idea of establishing partnerships to make known the world day without smartphone. Every year, he tries to convince new people. ” For February 6, 2019, I contacted artists. I got an answer — negative, of course, but an answer all the same — from Florence Foresti. I had thought of her when she banned cell phones in her shows “, tells us Phil Marso.
How does the author explain his difficulty in convincing potential partners, even though his initiative is now relayed? ” This may come from a form of weariness around the world days, there were fewer of them when I created the one without a laptop “, he answers us.
Phil Marso alone chose the theme for these days. It happens to associate with schools that take part in the event. In 2023, it is in Belgium, in Habay-La-Neuve, that he travels for a visit to a school.
The instigator of these days has even provided a list of questions that you can ask yourself during these 72 hours of reflection. Without giving up your smartphone, you might wonder if ” mobile phones are bad for your health “, or even if ” cell phone is not […] not Big Brother’s ears “.
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