Speaker scum: A name for loud phone users

Time of India

24-04-2025

AI-generated image for representative purpose only
Recently, a forum on Reddit coined the term '
speaker scum
'. It refers to passengers who play music, watch videos, or take calls without using headphones. This was part of a discussion on travellers increasingly being frustrated by this new
in-flight nuisance
after 'gate lice' (passengers who crowd boarding gates) and 'seat squatters' (those who take unassigned seats), as reported by New York Post. This kind of nuisance, however, is not just restricted to air travel and is a common occurrence in Indian public transport.
'I have had to change seats because of speaker scums'
Vaishnavi Merchant, a railway and bus commuter, frequently encounters speaker scums. She recalls, 'On my way to college for an exam, I sat next to a woman blaring reels on her phone. I couldn't study due to the disturbance. I thought I should tell her, but I resorted to giving her looks and covered my ears with my hands. But she didn't care. I eventually changed seats.'
'Despite requests, some passengers refuse to cooperate'
Divya Bihani often commutes on express trains and is frequently disturbed by loud phone audio from fellow passengers, especially older individuals. 'It's very annoying,' she says, noting that it breaks her concentration especially when she's working on the go. She shares, 'One time, a passenger ignored multiple requests to turn down the volume of his phone, which led to an intervention by the authorities. People need to understand that in a shared space it's important to maintain some decorum.'
'Phones should have a feature of auto-lowering volume in public spaces'
Abhishek Mithbawkar, another public transport commuter, faces the frustration of loud audio, especially from passengers seated nearby. He usually spends his travel time reading the news or a book, but the repetitive sound distracts him. He says, 'The situation worsens during events like T20 matches when people play live match commentary at full blast.' Abhishek suggests that mobile companies add a feature to lower the volume when travelling at high speeds and give pop-up reminders to be mindful of surroundings.
Impact of loud sounds
AI-generated image for representative purpose only
Unexpected and repetitive noise increases cortisol levels, leading to agitation, irritability, and subconscious aggression
Loud phone noise in public can cause ambient stress, keeping people on edge without them consciously recognising the cause, ultimately making daily commutes more mentally draining
Instead of confronting the issue, people disengage by wearing headphones or avoiding public interactions altogether
(As mentioned by Dr Anuja Luniya, a behaviour expert)
Why some people watch videos on speaker in public
There can be a combination of factors behind this. According to Dr Anuja Luniya, a behaviour expert, many use sound as a self-regulation tool — drowning out stress, anxiety, or the unpredictability and chaos of public spaces
Luniya says, 'In some cases, it's a learned behaviour; people mirror their environment, and if public noise is normalised in their daily lives, they become desensitised to its impact on others'
Further, social validation also plays a role. Luniya explains, 'Some use loud audio as a way to assert presence or connect with others, even in passive ways'
Technology too, has blurred the lines between private and public space. The headphone culture has made people less used to shared auditory experiences, making intrusions feel more disturbing
There can be a combination of factors behind this. According to Dr Anuja Luniya, a behaviour expert, many use sound as a self-regulation tool — drowning out stress, anxiety, or the unpredictability and chaos of public spaces
Luniya says, 'In some cases, it's a learned behaviour; people mirror their environment, and if public noise is normalised in their daily lives, they become desensitised to its impact on others'
Further, social validation also plays a role. Luniya explains, 'Some use loud audio as a way to assert presence or connect with others, even in passive ways'
Technology too, has blurred the lines between private and public space. The headphone culture has made people less used to shared auditory experiences, making intrusions feel more disturbing