Fine ‘headphone dodgers’ if you will, but to really tackle antisocial behaviour, Britain should look to Japan | Emily Bratt

The Guardian Business · 10/24/2026, 10:00:30 AM

Working in Japanese schools, I saw how teaching young people civic pride creates adults with consideration for others There are two types of people who listen to music in public: those who wear headphones and those who … are a word I probably can’t use here. “ Loudcasting ” – playing audio, watching videos or talking on speakerphone in public spaces – is a form of antisocial behaviour that drives eight in 10 of people in the UK crazy, and I’m glad Andy Burnham is one of those eight. But while I welcome his policy to fine “headphone dodgers”, I’m not convinced it will solve the problem. This behaviour isn’t only a nuisance, but a grave indicator of a deeper societal issue: the erosion of empathy. You can’t legislate civic pride into an individualistic culture where feelings of social disconnection are widespread. Continue reading...