Sabrina Carpenter Weighs Phone Ban at Future Shows

Sabrina Carpenter says fans may have to prepare to go phone-free at her future concerts.

The pop star, known for her high-energy performances and viral moments, is considering a phone ban to encourage fans to stay present and enjoy the show in real time.

Prepared for Pushback

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the 26-year-old singer revealed she’s considering banning phones during her concerts, following the lead of other major artists like Madonna, Bob Dylan, and Adele.

“This will honestly piss off my fans, but absolutely,” Carpenter said when asked if she’d ever require phones to be locked up at her shows. The comment was made in reference to a concert she attended by Silk Sonic in Las Vegas, where fans were required to surrender their devices during the performance.

“I went to see Silk Sonic in Vegas, and they locked my phone,” she said. “I’ve never had a better experience at a concert. I genuinely felt like I was back in the Seventies—wasn’t alive. Genuinely felt like I was there. Everyone’s singing, dancing, looking at each other, and laughing. It really, really just felt so beautiful.”

Other Artists Are Reclaiming the Moment

Carpenter acknowledged the reality of performing in the digital age, but she’s not convinced it’s helping the fan experience.

“I’ve grown up in the age of people having iPhones at shows,” she continued. “It unfortunately feels super normal to me. I can’t blame people for wanting to have memories. But depending on how long I want to be touring, and what age I am, girl, take those phones away.”

Carpenter joked that the push for phone-free performances may also be a future-facing move. “You cannot zoom in on my face. Right now, my skin is soft and supple. It’s fine. Do not zoom in on me when I’m 80 years old up there.”

The singer, whose new album “Man’s Best Friend” is scheduled for release on August 29, isn’t the first artist to speak out about the overuse of phones at concerts. Adele, for example, once told a fan during a 2016 show, “Can you stop filming me with a video camera? Because I’m really here in real life, you can enjoy it in real life, rather than through your camera.”

Other artists like Jack White, Iron Maiden, and Busta Rhymes have also expressed frustration with phone culture at live events, with some implementing mandatory lock-up policies to encourage real-time engagement.

Carpenter’s comments reflect a growing trend among performers who hope to bring concerts back to their roots—where connection, spontaneity, and shared energy take center stage.