Airpods are everywhere at school like  in the halls, during lunch, sometimes even during class. Most high school students can be seen having one earphone plugged in everyday. I’m not saying that they’re bad because I often use them too. But I think we need to talk about how much they’re starting to control our lives. 

Airpods are making teens more and more disconnected from the real world and the people around them. They’re designed to be convenient because you can listen to music, podcasts, or even videos anytime without bothering anyone around you. But since they’re so easy to use, we end up using them all the time even when we know we shouldn’t.

At school, I’ve noticed that people talk less to each other because they are constantly distracted by music playing in their ears. Instead of starting a conversation or trying to make new friends, it’s easier to just stay in your own little world. Even when walking between classes, a lot of us are tuned out instead of being present. That may not seem like a really big deal but over time it really affects how we interact and connect as a community. 

There’s also the issue of focus while in a classroom environment. Teachers constantly have to remind students to take out their airpods, and even then, some students still choose to keep them in. It’s hard to pay attention when you’re trying to multitask while listening to music, which can hurt our learning without us even realizing it. 

I’m not saying that we should get rid of airpods completely. They’re great for working out, relaxing, or even in some cases, helps for when needing to focus. But I think that we need to be more aware of how often we use them. If we don’t, something that’s supposed to make life easier could end up making us more distracted and disconnected. 

At Hoover, we care about the community. But a strong community means actually being present with each other not just physically, but mentally too. Maybe it’s time we start taking our airpods out a little more and turning back into real life.