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  3. Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public

Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public

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  • leeolds@mastodon.socialL leeolds@mastodon.social

    @mjr @robparsons @arstechnica also, it's easy to accidentally hang up with the phone against the ear.

    mjr@masto.bikeM This user is from outside of this forum
    mjr@masto.bikeM This user is from outside of this forum
    mjr@masto.bike
    wrote last edited by
    #8

    @leeolds @robparsons @arstechnica the screen is intended to switch off when it's up by your head, but its not totally reliable on most phones

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

      Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
      Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
      https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

      alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA This user is from outside of this forum
      alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA This user is from outside of this forum
      alpinefolk@sunbeam.city
      wrote last edited by
      #9

      @arstechnica completely agree, except that I literally can’t hear my 8 year old phone unless it’s on speaker. I put it on speaker and still hold it to my ear. Luckily I rarely take phone calls and almost never in public.

      shenanigans@chitter.xyzS 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

        Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
        Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
        https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

        arildsen@mastodon.greenA This user is from outside of this forum
        arildsen@mastodon.greenA This user is from outside of this forum
        arildsen@mastodon.green
        wrote last edited by
        #10

        @arstechnica I have been asking myself this a lot in the past few years. I just don’t get it.

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

          Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
          Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
          https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

          alanfleming@mastodon.me.ukA This user is from outside of this forum
          alanfleming@mastodon.me.ukA This user is from outside of this forum
          alanfleming@mastodon.me.uk
          wrote last edited by
          #11

          Because they’re more used to Whatsapp and Facetime video calls than to ever making a voice call.

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          • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

            Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
            Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
            https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

            drangnon@hachyderm.ioD This user is from outside of this forum
            drangnon@hachyderm.ioD This user is from outside of this forum
            drangnon@hachyderm.io
            wrote last edited by
            #12

            @arstechnica there was a link between brain cancer and holding a microwave transmitter to one's ear, I'm pretty sure

            itsmeholland@mastodon.socialI 1 Reply Last reply
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            • drangnon@hachyderm.ioD drangnon@hachyderm.io

              @arstechnica there was a link between brain cancer and holding a microwave transmitter to one's ear, I'm pretty sure

              itsmeholland@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
              itsmeholland@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
              itsmeholland@mastodon.social
              wrote last edited by
              #13

              @draNgNon @arstechnica gonna need a source for that one, my guy. Lots of people are in fact worried about this, but that doesn't make it a real or significant risk.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                dresstokilt@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                dresstokilt@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                dresstokilt@mastodon.social
                wrote last edited by
                #14

                @arstechnica this isn't even a top 10 best SEPTA social shaming sign.

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA alpinefolk@sunbeam.city

                  @arstechnica completely agree, except that I literally can’t hear my 8 year old phone unless it’s on speaker. I put it on speaker and still hold it to my ear. Luckily I rarely take phone calls and almost never in public.

                  shenanigans@chitter.xyzS This user is from outside of this forum
                  shenanigans@chitter.xyzS This user is from outside of this forum
                  shenanigans@chitter.xyz
                  wrote last edited by
                  #15

                  @alpinefolk tangentially related, but i was talking to a friend about phone calls the other day, and i said that i like my ringtone and it's funny but nobody hears it because i never get phone calls and when i do my phone is on silent 100% of the time anyways

                  alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • shenanigans@chitter.xyzS shenanigans@chitter.xyz

                    @alpinefolk tangentially related, but i was talking to a friend about phone calls the other day, and i said that i like my ringtone and it's funny but nobody hears it because i never get phone calls and when i do my phone is on silent 100% of the time anyways

                    alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA This user is from outside of this forum
                    alpinefolk@sunbeam.cityA This user is from outside of this forum
                    alpinefolk@sunbeam.city
                    wrote last edited by
                    #16

                    @Shenanigans ha. Same situation.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                      Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                      Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                      https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                      flywheel@friendica.dkF This user is from outside of this forum
                      flywheel@friendica.dkF This user is from outside of this forum
                      flywheel@friendica.dk
                      wrote last edited by
                      #17
                      @arstechnica Yeah - it irritates the hell out of me.
                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                        Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                        Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                        https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                        infinity@infosec.exchangeI This user is from outside of this forum
                        infinity@infosec.exchangeI This user is from outside of this forum
                        infinity@infosec.exchange
                        wrote last edited by
                        #18

                        @arstechnica

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • robparsons@mastodon.socialR robparsons@mastodon.social

                          @arstechnica apparently it's because the Kardashians do it, so now everybody does it. Kardashians do it because it's necessary for the viewers to hear both sides of the conversation. The twats who do it everywhere now haven't figured out that nobody else needs to hear both sides of their conversations.

                          lkanies@hachyderm.ioL This user is from outside of this forum
                          lkanies@hachyderm.ioL This user is from outside of this forum
                          lkanies@hachyderm.io
                          wrote last edited by
                          #19

                          @robparsons @arstechnica this is the best explanation I’ve heard, too. And I think knit’s reasonable to generalize it to, the tv shows have to show the calls, they use speakerphone, and people are copying them. It’s in all shows now

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                          • mjr@masto.bikeM mjr@masto.bike

                            @robparsons @arstechnica surely it's because you can't use the phone for calendar or notes if it's by your head, screens feel rotten against your ear and you ear-print the screen. If I've no headset, I prefer speaker. Not in public, though.

                            M This user is from outside of this forum
                            M This user is from outside of this forum
                            munkisquisher@mastodon.nz
                            wrote last edited by
                            #20

                            @mjr @robparsons @arstechnica here I am like an old person saying "hold on a sec, I'll put you down and see what's in my calendar.... OK I'm back"

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                              Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                              Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                              https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                              vampirepenguin@mastodon.socialV This user is from outside of this forum
                              vampirepenguin@mastodon.socialV This user is from outside of this forum
                              vampirepenguin@mastodon.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #21

                              @arstechnica I prefer speaker, but not in public. Who are these people?! I hope this never happens near me, because when it does imma join the conversation.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                                Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                                Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                                https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                                dysamoria@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                dysamoria@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                dysamoria@mastodon.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #22

                                @arstechnica Fucking HATE IT. Same with assholes playing music on blast when they bike or walk on trails. Use fucking headphones!

                                frchazzz@mastodon.socialF minternational@mastodon.socialM 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • dysamoria@mastodon.socialD dysamoria@mastodon.social

                                  @arstechnica Fucking HATE IT. Same with assholes playing music on blast when they bike or walk on trails. Use fucking headphones!

                                  frchazzz@mastodon.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
                                  frchazzz@mastodon.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
                                  frchazzz@mastodon.social
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #23

                                  @dysamoria @arstechnica PREACH!

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                                    Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                                    Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                                    https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                                    iveyline@mastodon.nzI This user is from outside of this forum
                                    iveyline@mastodon.nzI This user is from outside of this forum
                                    iveyline@mastodon.nz
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #24

                                    @arstechnica It is an irritating habit

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • dysamoria@mastodon.socialD dysamoria@mastodon.social

                                      @arstechnica Fucking HATE IT. Same with assholes playing music on blast when they bike or walk on trails. Use fucking headphones!

                                      minternational@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      minternational@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      minternational@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #25

                                      @dysamoria @arstechnica Halleluja

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • arstechnica@mastodon.socialA arstechnica@mastodon.social

                                        Explain it like I'm 5: Why is everyone on speakerphone in public?
                                        Your phone still functions when held to your ear, people!
                                        https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/03/explain-it-like-im-5-why-is-everyone-on-speakerphone-in-public/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

                                        barrionomia@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        barrionomia@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        barrionomia@mastodon.social
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #26

                                        @arstechnica could be cause people don't wish to be close to a high frequency emitter

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