The parallel rise of kid-friendly and adults-only spaces may reveal something deeper about the way we live together as a society.
For a long time, everyday public spaces were places where different generations naturally mixed. Today, however, many activities and environments are becoming increasingly specialized around specific audiences: coworking spaces, student housing, senior communities, kids' clubs, family resorts, and adults-only venues.
This kind of segmentation often comes from a desire for personalization: everyone can find a place that closely matches their expectations and preferences. Yet this trend also raises questions, because the more our spaces become specialized, the fewer opportunities different generations have to interact with one another.
Children can sometimes begin to be viewed as a separate category rather than as full members of society.
In France, this debate has resurfaced several times. One of the most widely discussed controversies involved child-free travel spaces, particularly the introduction of "child-free" train cars by SNCF, an initiative aimed at passengers looking for a quieter travel environment. Reactions were deeply divided: while some travelers believe it is legitimate to have access to calmer spaces, others argue that excluding children—even indirectly—risks making families less visible in public life.
The question of legality has also been raised: is it actually legal to restrict access to a space specifically because someone is a child?
Beyond the controversy itself, this debate highlights a broader reality: the expectations of different groups are not always easy to reconcile. And as the adults-only trend continues to grow, the place of children in public spaces can begin to feel increasingly fragile.
Children hold a unique position in this discussion because they are not simply another consumer group—they are future citizens and adults. Their presence in everyday spaces plays an important role in their development and their integration into society.
While the desire for more personalized environments is understandable, it becomes more concerning if children gradually come to be seen as unwelcome in an increasing number of shared spaces. After all, learning to live together also means accepting the presence of different generations—and everything that comes with it.
