Bare beating was one of the biggest gripes commuters had in 2025 – and rightly so.
For those unaware, this was a term Metro coined for those who obnoxiously listen to music without headphones on public transport, or have entire phone calls on speakerphone so the whole bus or Tube carriage can hear.
But what exactly do they get out of it? Metro spoke to some of the culprits to find out why they commit this heinous act.
Unsurprisingly, they all asked to remain largely anonymous and unpictured. Make of that what you will…
Headphones are quite insular
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Ryan Barclay, 26, from Glasgow, tells Metro that being aware of your surroundings for passenger information announcements is, in his opinion, a ‘valid reason’ to listen to TV shows or podcasts without headphones.
He regularly listens to podcasts on public transport without headphones, for this reason, but also because he thinks ‘headphones can be quite insular’ and ‘isolating’, preventing you from striking up random conversations with fellow passengers about what you’re listening to.
Ryan opts for podcasts about politics, current affairs, and social debates, and claims he’d welcome someone challenging him about them or openly disagreeing with what is being said, as that’s their ‘democratic right’.
But so far, he’s not actually experienced many negative reactions from other train passengers.
You might argue it’s because we’re all too chicken and too British to say anything, but he has a different take on it.
‘I think people expect a certain level of noise on public transport,’ he states. ‘If people ever raise any concerns or issues, then I would respond respectfully and politely,’ he adds.
‘I just think that you are missing out on some interesting conversations if you use headphones on public transport. Of course, you’ve got to be respectful and responsible and alert to the perceptions of others, but equally, it’s a life skill to get along with people with whom you disagree.’
Sometimes I forget my headphones
Šarūnas Bružas, the co-founder and CEO of Desktronic, admitted to playing audio on his phone without headphones, but says he only does this ‘at a low volume’.
He said: ‘This usually happens when my headphones die mid-commute, or I forget them at home.
‘During a recent train ride, my phone was at 8% battery, and turning on my Bluetooth would have further drained my battery. I needed my phone to reply to work matters, so I kept the volume just loud enough for me to hear while holding the phone close.’
Šarūnas, from Lithuania, added: ‘I keep it low enough that the train’s noise mostly covered it, and angled the speaker towards me to ensure I didn’t bother the people around me.’
Sophie, a journalist from London, admits to doing something similar when she finds herself without her headphones. ‘I turn up the volume to one and hold my phone close to my ear like I’m on a call,’ she explains.
Commuter news and features to pass your journey
I don’t always realise I’m doing it
Tom, a fellow Londoner who works in social media, admits he sometimes ‘accidentally’ plays things out loud on the Tube.
‘I think my Bluetooth and headphones are connected and maybe just not working properly, but it turns out I was actually blasting it on my phone at full volume and just thought I was hearing it through my headphones,’ he tells us.
‘I was once sitting there doing it for a good 30 to 45 minutes, too.’
Awks.
Blame Apple
On social media, a few anonymous commuters have blamed Apple for their inability to use headphones, because, naturally, it would be anyone else’s fault but their own.
They claim it’s because newer iPhones no longer come with headphone jacks and wireless earbuds are ‘too expensive’, so they just make do without.
A few people also confessed that they had purchased wireless headphones, but kept ‘forgetting’ to charge them.
Do you ever play music or TV on the train without headphones?
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Sometimes
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Never
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I haven't, but I would if needed
In case anyone was curious, Transport for London actively encourages headphone use on Tubes and buses around the city, as not using them can create an ‘unpleasant or even stressful environment for others’.
TfL even launched a campaign earlier this year, urging passengers to be more considerate when travelling and wear headphones.
This came after they conducted research that found 70% of 1,000 customers surveyed find loud music and phone conversations without headphones disruptive.
Speaking at the time, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: ‘The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when travelling on public transport in the capital, but the small minority who play music or videos out loud can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys.
‘TfL’s new campaign reminds and encourages Londoners to always be considerate of other passengers. However Londoners spend their journey, whether catching up on their favourite series or listening to music, we want everyone to have a pleasant journey.’
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