Loudcasting: Is it ever OK to go headphone free in public? episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 10, 2026 · 10 MIN

Loudcasting: Is it ever OK to go headphone free in public?

from What in the World · host BBC World Service

There’s a name for when people blare out music, scroll through social media on full volume or talk on loudspeaker in public - loudcasting. Surveys show that in the U.K. most adults find this behaviour irritating, but there’s also data suggesting that your age and culture may influence how indifferent you are to this kind of noise. BBC Reporter Angus Thompson tells us what experts say and explains why some people get so annoyed. Plus we hear from our friends across the World Service about loudcasting in their country.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 10, 2026

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Loudcasting: Is it ever OK to go headphone free in public?

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