A photo taken by a mother at a McDonald's restaurant in Franklin, Tennessee, has gone viral, igniting a wave of controversy over children's play spaces and screen time.
The image, shared by American journalist, author, and mother of three Nancy French on March 5, shows a McDonald’s PlayPlace inside the fast-food chain featuring nothing more than two screens and two chairs.
"It's so heartbreaking. I'm at a new McDonald's in Franklin, Tennessee, looking at their 'playground' for kids. Two screens/two chairs," French wrote in her post on X.
The post quickly gained traction with more than 16 million views and coverage from major news outlets such as Fox News.
Shortly thereafter, French had, unbeknownst to her, started a firestorm on social media with over 2,000 users weighing in on what they see as a concerning shift away from traditional - and physical - play.
"I have no hope for the community," wrote one user.
"This is more of a place where you get punished," wroter another.
However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. Some social media users defended McDonald's, suggesting that their customers come for the food, and not their PlayPlace.
"McDonald's is not a children's institution. They're there to eat," one user pointed out.
In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for McDonald's addressed the concerns in a statement to Fox News.
"McDonald's and its franchisees are proud to offer family-friendly areas in many of our U.S. restaurants," the spokesperson stated.
The company also clarified that the Franklin location’s setup does not reflect the standard McDonald’s PlayPlace design.
"While this restaurant has a few interactive features for younger guests, it does not represent the full PlayPlace design and experience," the spokesperson added.
