Health and behavioural experts have warned that prolonged headphone use may reduce social interactions among young people and limit their awareness of their surroundings, CNN reported.
Research by Edison Research found that people aged 13 to 34 spend an average of 4.5 hours daily listening to music, podcasts and other audio content. Spotify data also showed that Generation Z accounted for 56 per cent of its global music streams between January 1 and November 25, 2025.
Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, said people may use headphones to shield themselves from others, even without consciously intending to avoid social interaction.
Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, warned that students who regularly wear headphones may miss opportunities to engage with people from different backgrounds. He also highlighted the importance of casual conversations and brief encounters with strangers, which experts say can contribute to personal well-being.
Mark raised concerns that constant access to digital entertainment could discourage people from spending time in silence and paying attention to their immediate surroundings. Davidson also cautioned that relying on music and other distractions to manage unwanted thoughts and emotions may offer only temporary relief.
Excessive headphone use also poses a risk to hearing. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders warns that exposure to noise at or above 85 decibels can damage hearing, with the risk depending on the volume and duration of exposure.
