Audience members who can’t sit through a film without checking their mobile phones every five minutes are the bane of cinemagoers the world over. But now an American cinema chain is riding to the rescue. AMC, which owns 400 screens in North America, has announced plans to convert the back rows of cinemas into “texting aisles” – soundproofed areas which will silence the noise of phones, as well as barriers to dim the glow from screens. Other chains are investigating ways to allow audiences to use phones without disturbing their fellow ticketholders.

The issue arose when Madonna was caught texting during a screening of “12 Years a Slave”. That stirred Elijah Wood to tell his half-a-million followers on Twitter: “A movie theatre is meant to create an immersive experience for the audience, not one in which they can work on their blog.” However, AMC’s plans are undoubtedly a setback for romance. “Once the back row of a cinema was for lovers. Now it will be reserved for texters.” (John Harlow, The Sunday Times, London).

A victory for the sane, who just want to watch a movie without being bothered by texting! Epicurus would be delighted. There are plenty of other places for romance, and you can still secretly hold your girlfriend’s hand for the first time in the front row of the theatre just as easily as in the back.