Paris is urging couples to end the tradition of fixing padlocks to the Seine River's aging bridges and instead upload hashtagged selfies to a website dedicated to everlasting love, The Associated Press reported.
Paris began its "Love WithoutLocks" campaign on Wednesday with giant stickers in French, English and Spanish on the Pont de l'Archeveche that said the city's famed bridges "can't resist your love."
The idea behind the tradition is that you and your special someone attach a lock written with your names or initials to the bridge's fence and throw the keys into the river, symbolizing that your love is eternal and can never be undone, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The tradition only dates back a decade or so, but the weight of the locks is pulling the bridge railings down. Just last July, a section of the Pont des Arts bridge's fencing collapsed because of the locks, according to the Los Angeles Times.
After the incident, Bruno Julliard, the city's head of cultural affairs, tweeted it "confirms that our desire to find an alternative to these locks is a real necessity."
That alternative is selfies.
But not all are agreeing with the swap.
"I think (a selfie) isn't a good replacement," said Dutch tourist Bob Booy.
Likewise, Lawrence Phillips of Wales, who was at the bridge with his Australian girlfriend, said attaching a lock is a "symbol of togetherness."
Although there is no penalty for those who don't follow the suggestion, Parisian officials hope people will appreciate the move, which is an effort to protect the city's famous architecture, reported Deutsche Welle.
"It's the first step in a wider plan ... an initial communication effort to tell people that love locks are not good for Paris's cultural heritage and that actually, it's not an ideal way to symbolize love," officials said, according to the German broadcaster.
