For many, these devices have become an indispensable part of daily life.

Whether it is listening to music to unwind, catching up on videos during breaks, or simply blocking out the unrelenting urban noise, a favourite song after a long day of classes and traffic can feel like a much-needed sanctuary. Indeed, in a bustling metropolis like Dhaka, wanting to escape the chaos is completely natural, and everyone deserves a moment to themselves. Yet, when earphones remain plugged in for most of the day, it raises a critical question: are we genuinely enjoying music, or are we quietly becoming dependent on shutting out the world around us?

Furthermore, the physical risks of constant earphone use are far more significant than most realise, starting with our long-term hearing health. Listening to audio at high volumes for extended periods causes cumulative damage that can last for years.

In fact, according to a study published in BMJ Global Health, researcher Lauren K. Dillard and her colleagues analysed 33 studies involving more than 19,000 young individuals. Their findings estimated that between 670 million and 1.35 billion young people worldwide are currently at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits and exposure to loud sounds. While this does not mean every earphone user is destined for hearing damage, continuous exposure to high volume over time is undeniably harmful. Fortunately, adopting simple habits such as lowering the volume and taking regular listening breaks can safeguard our ears.

Beyond physical damage, however, this constant auditory stimulation creates a subtle psychological dependence that impairs our ability to focus. Gradually, many students have conditioned themselves to require background noise whether they are studying, relaxing, or trying to fall asleep. Some rely on ambient focus tracks to study, while others play white noise every night to fall asleep.

While music can certainly enhance productivity, a problem arises when we feel entirely incapable of functioning without it. Consequently, silence begins to feel uncomfortable, and settling into a task without background noise becomes a struggle. Earphones may not directly cause poor concentration or sleep disorders, but relying on them constantly forces us to re-examine our relationship with silence.

Ultimately, we should be able to appreciate music as a choice rather than a mandatory crutch for every moment of the day.

At the same time, this habit deeply impacts our social dynamics, reinforcing a sense of isolation even within crowded environments. This issue is particularly easy to overlook in a densely populated city like Dhaka. For instance, a study published in PLOS Mental Health in July 2025 surveyed 400 students at the University of Rajshahi. It revealed that 22.5 per cent of students experienced significant loneliness, with younger students and those from lower-income backgrounds being the most vulnerable.

Although the study does not claim earphones directly cause loneliness, it highlights that emotional disconnect is a widespread reality among university students in Bangladesh. Swamped with classes, assignments, tuition, and part-time jobs, students often spend their precious free minutes staring at screens or plugged into earphones rather than interacting with peers nearby. As a result, we can be surrounded by people yet continually miss the opportunity to forge meaningful human connections.

To be clear, wearing earphones does not automatically mean someone is lonely or unhappy; many students simply enjoy music, need a temporary breather, or want to block out traffic noise, which is entirely reasonable. Rather, the problem begins when earphone use transforms into an unconscious reflex, leading us to miss spontaneous conversations, ignore friends sitting right beside us, or struggle to study in quiet spaces.

Thankfully, small intentional changes can restore balance. We can lower the volume, schedule regular listening breaks, intentionally study in silence, and consciously put our devices away when gathering with friends. Ultimately, these small choices enable us to enjoy our music while actively protecting both our hearing and our interpersonal relationships.

Therefore, the next time we reach for our earphones, perhaps we should pause and ask ourselves why. Are we tuning in because we truly enjoy the music, need to concentrate, or feel exhausted? Or have we simply become so accustomed to continuous noise that silence feels unsettling? Now and then, taking off our earphones allows us to rediscover what we have been missing: a friend starting a conversation, the vibrant chatter of the room, or simply the living world right outside our own personal bubble.