A new term has come to light for public transport travellers: the act of allowing sound from your phone, whether it’s music, videos, or conversations, to echo through a public space instead of using headphones.
It’s called ‘bare beating.’ When you use public transport, many times you might see a commuter opening YouTube and starting to watch videos or play music out loud, completely ignoring the fact that not everyone in the carriage wants to be part of their audio experience.
This common yet annoying phenomenon is now called bare beating. Several people on TikTok have also voiced their frustration because of this habit and called out the ones who refrain from using headphones and disturb everyone with their entertainment.
It might not be very pleasant when you want to doze off for a quick nap on a trip before arrival or simply wish to be in peace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJBzbiBzZNo
As per The Independent, one TikTok user spoke about the inconvenience and said, “Why do people listen to music on speakers in public? Like, what is wrong with you? We do not all want to hear your music.” Another added, “The carriage is basically full, and she’s annoying everyone.”
Several daily commuters in the U.K. had a similar thing to say, but in different ways. “I don’t know who started this trend of playing YouTube, TikToks, or reels out loud on public transport, but it needs to stop. You can get earphones on Amazon for less than £20,” one X (formerly Twitter) user pointed out. The issue has become so out of control that it has gone to the political leaders.
As of April 2025, the Liberal Democrats in the UK announced an agenda to push a legal ban on playing loud music on public transport in England. As per the outlet, those offenders will be labeled as “headphone dodgers.” The party claimed that citizens who violate the no loud music on public transport policy. The party proposed fines of up to £1,000 for those who break the rule.
Bekyk hierdie plasing op Instagram
Meanwhile, you might be curious about why these people who get offended by loud audio don’t ask the co-passengers to turn the volume down. Well, it’s not as simple as you think. In a recent poll commissioned by them, it was found that more than half of Britons would not be comfortable asking other people to turn their volume down. Maybe it is the British politeness or simply a person’s introverted nature.
On the other hand, over a third of respondents said they regularly experience loud audio disturbances during their commute. Furthermore, the liberal democrats party is planning to amend the Bus Services Bill, currently progressing through Parliament. They have also decided to begin a national campaign to inform people about the issue and avoid disruptive behaviors like bare beating.
Lisa Smart, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, said, “Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of antisocial behavior—and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are among the worst offenders.”
Smart also added that whether people are heading back from work or simply trying to enjoy a moment to themselves in peace, everyone deserves to enjoy some quiet time. She declared it’s quite unfair how she gets to hear stories of how insensitive commuters publicly blast music while travelling, and the ones getting disturbed become too intimidated to speak up.
“It’s time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace,” added Lisa Smart. For now, this is an ongoing story. The discussions and pressure between officials and advocacy groups will eventually determine the outcome for the aggravating, bare-beating phenomenon.
