Isn`t one way of avoiding social contact just about plugging your ears, and appearing as if you can’t hear anything the other may be trying to say? Especially in public spaces—colleges and offices, where you don’t want to be disturbed by that annoying friend or colleague. But, that’s where the problem lies. While one cannot deny the benefit and practicality of the audio accessory, certain studies have rung warning bells given its excessive and prolonged usage. It could be, literally, making you more lonely. 

According to a recent study conducted by the audio company Jabra, UK headphone users are now going an average of five weeks without speaking to someone new. The study has sparked concerns about loneliness and a lack of social interaction, particularly in light of the pandemic-induced restrictions. Professor Noreena Hertz, author of The Lonely Century, said the study showed that “we are in the midst of a crisis of disconnection that the pandemic has significantly amplified”. While the Coronavirus outbreak has necessitated social distancing, the constant use of earphones contributed to this isolation long before the pandemic.