Generation Z is obsessed with headphones and experts warn of unexpected consequences

By mid-November of last year, Atera Ghali had listened to 33,500 minutes of music, according to the annual summary of her listening habits on the digital music platform Spotify. The young woman, who lives in New York City, said: “I can't even wash the dishes without wearing headphones because I'm bored.”

Ghali, who is 24 years old, added that she spends most of her time listening to music or podcasts, starting with her morning trip to her workplace at a publishing house. During work hours, the young woman uses headphones all the time, unless she is in a meeting or talking with her colleagues.

She also puts it on during the trip home, doing household chores in the evening, and even when she's getting ready for bed. It's easy to see many young people, like Ghali, wearing headphones, or listening to whatever interests them on their phones.

According to an Edison Research poll published in May, people ages 13 to 34 spend an average of 4.5 hours a day listening to something, whether it's a podcast, music, or otherwise. According to a Spotify spokesperson, about 56% of all music listening on the platform globally came from users belonging to Generation Z, between January 1 and November 25, 2025.

Although regular use of headphones in daily life may seem harmless, researchers fear that excessive use may negatively affect the ability to have meaningful human experiences or control one's mental state. Using headphones has become an established habit for most people.

But Dr. Gloria Mark, professor of information science at the University of California, Irvine, noted that people may use headphones as a “shield to protect them from others,” even if it is unintentional. Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said students who constantly wear headphones miss out on countless social opportunities.

He estimated that 90% of students on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus wear headphones, stressing: “Ten years ago, this was not the case.” The expert, who also holds the position of research professor in psychology and psychiatry, believed that universities provide a great opportunity to meet new people who often come from different backgrounds.

But, he said, "If everyone walked around with headphones on, no one would talk to each other." Annabelle Franklin, 24, recently watched an episode of a television series that aired in the early 2000s, and she was drawn to a scene in which the main character sat on a bench waiting for someone, and just looked around, without listening to the music or looking at her phone.

“This is something that no one does anymore,” said the young woman, who lives in New York. Franklin begins listening to music as soon as she wakes up, and she estimates that she spends about 12 hours a day listening to music or podcasts.

But experts like Mark and Davidson question whether using headphones has negative consequences. The importance of daily social interaction Experts believe that using headphones may contribute to feelings of loneliness, a condition that affects one in five Americans.

Davidson emphasized that even fleeting moments shared with strangers can enhance our well-being, while wearing headphones obscures these important interactions. He explained: “Those simple connections in our daily lives, and perhaps especially with strangers, can be crucial to our well-being.

They are always available interactions that can support our health. But if we do not take advantage of these opportunities, we will miss out on activities available in our daily lives.”

The Value of Silence The constant use of headphones can also hinder an individual's ability to have a completely clear and present mind. “I think people have lost the ability to sit still, let their thoughts wander, or even allow themselves to get bored,” Mark said.

There is always something available at our disposal to solve that problem, or fill the void.” She explained that what may be perceived as emptiness, can actually be a very enriching experience, as refraining from using headphones or other distractions may help enhance mindfulness in the present moment, or increase awareness of our surroundings.

A study conducted in 2010 revealed that adults spend about 47% of their daily waking hours without thinking about what is actually happening around them. Davidson found that this percentage has gotten worse, noting that "the average adult does not pay attention to what he is doing."

Experiencing a Day Without Headphones Ghali was curious about the consequences of using headphones, and decided several weeks ago to stop listening to music while commuting to work, wanting to know if this would make her more aware of the world, and thus more present in her day. Just two days after the experiment began, the young woman noticed four signs announcing the opening of new stores in her neighborhood.

She said: “I had not noticed its presence before, even though I take the same road every day.”