It is not uncommon to see people wearing headphones while going about their days—whether they are working out, working, chatting on the phone, shopping at the grocery store, driving, riding on public transportation, or taking part in various other activities.
Doing so allows for individuals to have more individualized experiences as they consume media (music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc.), engage in conversations, attempt to maintain focus, or seek to avoid social interactions.
“I use headphones whenever I need to listen to something in public,” Dallas resident Chet MacArthur said. “Most frequently, I wear headphones when on a run or when talking on the phone. I like that wireless headphones tend to have built-in microphones so that I can talk on the phone completely hands-free.”
There are several varieties of headphone options, including bone-conduction and other open-ear products (e.g., Shokz), which transmit sound via vibrations and allow for better situational awareness; earbuds (such as AirPods), which offer noise isolation and increased sound quality; and over-the-ear headphones (e.g., Beats), which can provide comfort and a more immersive audio experience.
MacArthur said he wears bone-conduction headphones when he goes running or to the gym and uses noise-canceling in-ear headphones in all other situations in which he uses such technology.
“I prefer the bone-conduction ones for running and working out because I never need to worry about them falling out, they are more comfortable for long periods of time, and they are much safer to run in, as they don’t block out sounds from cars that could be near,” he said. “I prefer the noise-canceling in-ear option for everything else because they have better sound quality, which is something I like when watching a show or listening to music.”
Dallas-area resident Cristy Brandenburg said she wears headphones while she is working out and during phone calls while she is simultaneously cooking or doing laundry or other housework that requires both hands. For such instances, she enjoys wearing her in-ear AirPods.
“They hold a charge well, are comfortable, and are compatible with the voice isolation feature on my phone so that others don’t hear the background noise of dishes, the dog barking, water running, etc.,” she said.
Like Brandenburg, Dallas-area resident Brandy Washington enjoys wearing headphones in several situations, including while she is completing a variety of tasks at home.
“I’m usually wearing them when the girls (my stepdaughters) are at the house for break, when I’m working in the garden, or when I’m doing housework and want to be in the zone,” she said. “I also wear them on a plane.”
Washington said her go-to choice for headphones are her over-the-ear Sonys.
“The audio is so crisp,” she said. “They also don’t have that slightly tinny quality the earbuds can have.”
Headphones can be potentially troublesome at times, though, particularly in regard to safety when they block out too much noise and make a person less aware of his or her surroundings.
“They are absolutely a problem in terms of awareness,” Washington said. “The noise canceling works a little too well, and the girls have scared the heck out of me more than once.”
As he mentioned, MacArthur said one of the main reasons he now wears the bone-conduction device in certain circumstances is because of the dangers other options present.
“Headphones can be unsafe when worn by runners, walkers, or bikers, as they can drown out the sounds of cars or other disturbances, which could threaten the pedestrian or rider,” he said. “I used to run in noise-canceling earphones in Los Angeles and stopped because I realized it wasn’t very safe.”
Brandenburg also noted that headphones can be a safety hazard, especially when they are worn when a person is behind the wheel.
“The main problem I see with headphones is using them safely while driving since they might hinder awareness of sirens from emergency vehicles,” she said. “If I use them while driving, I only use one AirPod to maintain awareness of my surroundings.”
Another concern that headphone use can raise in various instances is its ability to isolate a person, creating a space in which someone is caught between being connected with the outside world through social interaction and being connected with his or her internal world of thoughts and emotions. When individuals choose to keep headphones in and not engage with those around them, as Brandenburg notes, doing so can have a negative impact on socialization.
“I consider myself a friendly person, often speaking to others in parks, grocery stores, or at the gym,” she said. “However, when someone is wearing headphones, I feel that any friendliness would be considered an interruption, so I refrain from engaging.”
Like Brandenburg, MacArthur has also noticed how the frequent use of headphones in public settings can cause people to disassociate with others, which he believes can be problematic in a long-term perspective.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing if someone wants to go for a walk or run with headphones, as it allows them to listen to music, call a friend, or enjoy an audio book,” he said, “but when everyone has their headphones in all of the time, it almost makes the world a less inviting place.”
MacArthur said the feeling of welcomeness was one of the most significant differences he noticed when he moved from Southern California to Dallas, and he doesn’t necessarily fault headphone use for lack of engagement among individuals.
“In California, everyone walks around with headphones in and never really says ‘hi’ or stops to talk to strangers, seeming very absorbed in their own world,” he said. “In Dallas, that is less of the case. People more often will say ‘hi’ when you walk by them and strike up conversations. I don’t think headphones are the problem—rather, they are an enabler for a society who is becoming less social over time.”
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