On the campus where I teach, earbuds are not permitted to be worn unless students are given permission from an adult for a specific academic purpose. Beyond my school, it is common practice for people to walk around in stores, on sidewalks and trails while exercising, and even in restaurants and cafes with earbuds in one or both ears. Many schools have created clear etiquette guidelines for ear technology, but for the rest of our lives, the etiquette is still being established.
Click here to see a blog post with some helpful tips and watch the accompanying TikTok video. Both are from Ask Trish and ConnectSafely.
Have a conversation with your friends and family about what’s expected when it comes to earbuds and headphones in the settings you share. Are the expectations different for earbuds as compared to headphones? What about:
- in the car?
- when sharing meals or co-viewing a movie at home?
- when moving around the house? (i.e., leaving the living room to get a snack in the kitchen)
- when in public places like stores, restaurants, and cafes?
How are our habits with earbuds and headphones impacting our relationships and our ability to connect with one another when opportunities arise?