Is it ever okay to loudcast? The unspoken rules of playing loud audio in public
Have you ever ridden public transportation or been hanging out at a restaruant when the person next to you suddenly started watching TikToks at full volume? Or maybe someone takes a video call on speaker, leaving everyone within earshot privy to a conversation they never signed up to hear.
We get it—loud audio in shared spaces can be deeply frustrating.
This habit has earned a new name online: “loudcasting,” or playing audio from a device in public without using headphones or earbuds.
Many don't even realize they're doing it, which begs the question: is it ever acceptable, and how do you politely ask someone to turn it down when it's not?
Why 'loudcasters' should be mindful
For etiquette expert Rachelle Wenger, being in a public space means being mindful of the people around you. She believes playing loud music or videos, as well as putting phone calls on speaker should generally be avoided in public spaces as it could potentially disturb others.
“We need to always be mindful of the privacy of our conversations, firstly, and that we disturb other people within hearing space and might be offended with either the music, videos or conversations they were invited to but did not want to be part of,” she explained to PhilSTAR L!fe.
Etiquette expert Tracy Que similarly emphasized the importance of consideration and awareness when sharing a public space. She said doing these things "can easily become intrusive—even when that isn’t our intention.”
One way to gauge whether it’s appropriate is to reverse the situation and ask yourself: If someone else were doing the same thing beside you, would you be comfortable with it?
“We all share not only physical space, but a certain amount of auditory space as well,” she said.
What if you don’t have earphones?
It doesn’t necessarily mean every headphone-free situation is automatically inappropriate. If you have to take a quick call on speaker, just make sure it stays quick. But if you don't have your headphones with you, Wenger recommends stepping into a "more private space or practice delayed gratification and watch at a more appropriate time and space."
Que noted that in more open environments, where people are sufficiently spaced apart and the sound is unlikely to disturb anyone, playing something aloud may be less intrusive.
“The key is simply being aware of how our choices may affect the people around us,” she said.
“Sometimes good etiquette is really just about making a small adjustment for the comfort of those sharing the space with us,” Que said.
How to ask someone to lower their audio in public
If you’re the person being disturbed, confronting a stranger about their volume can feel awkward. There’s also the question of how to make the request without turning a minor annoyance into an argument. Wenger recommends keeping it simple and polite.
“'Excuse me, kindly switch your music and conversation to a more private area. Thank you,'” she suggested. “The simpler and less words, the better.”
Que noted that correcting another person’s behavior can itself be tricky, particularly when you don’t know them. Still, if the sound has become genuinely disruptive, she believes it’s reasonable to make a polite request.
One possible approach is: "'Excuse me, would you mind lowering the volume a little? I’m having a bit of difficulty concentrating. Thank you so much.'"
“The tone matters just as much as the words,” Que said. She advised keeping the request “calm, discreet and friendly,” rather than making the other person feel “embarrassed or reprimanded.”
At the same time, she noted that “not everyone will respond positively to being approached by a stranger, however kindly we say it.”
“If the situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe, it may be better to move away or, where appropriate, ask a staff member for assistance,” Que said. “It isn’t so much about enforcing rules as it is about being mindful of how our behavior affects the people and spaces around us."