People using their smartphones on loudspeaker have become a common nuisance, whether on public transport, in cafés or in waiting rooms. Many people get annoyed and roll their eyes, but rarely does anyone react.
“It’s a lack of respect towards others”, one passenger complained. Others admitted that they struggle to speak up.
“I don’t have the courage to say something, even though I would like to. In the end, I just stay quiet.”
RTL decided to conduct a small experiment using a hidden camera.
In a café in Limperstberg, an RTL colleague put people’s patience to the test. She started watching videos on her phone at full volume. The reactions were immediate: glances, surprised faces, and a few shakes of the head. “I’ve never experienced anything like this here. On the train or the bus, yes – but here”, one customer says. Yet for a long time, nobody spoke up. Even when our colleague made a call on speakerphone, the café remained silent. Eventually, one man gathered the courage to take initiative. “I asked if she had headphones or could turn the volume down. For me, it’s normal to say something.”
So why do so many people prefer to tolerate the noise?
According to social psychology professor Katharina Schwarz, this is because conflicts are often perceived as a risk. “We don’t want to enter into a conflict. We don’t know how the other person will react. We need a proper reason to step into a conflict.” Another factor is the so-called bystander effect. When many people are present, individuals tend to feel less responsible for intervening, she explained, adding:
“In situations where we have no clear behavioural pattern, we look to others for guidance. Responsibility seems to be spread across everyone present, and with each additional bystander, I feel a little less responsible to act myself.”
Our street survey and hidden camera tests in cafés and on the tram show that most people would like to see more consideration, particularly on public transport. Some European cities have already launched initiatives to tackle the issue. In London, for example, a campaign targeted so-called headphone dodgers – people who watch videos or listen to music without headphones. Similar initiatives have been introduced in Lisbon, and one is planned in Dublin.
RTL asked the Ministry of Mobility how the situation is being handled in Luxembourg. The ministry said that public transport operators have jointly decided to launch an awareness campaign within this year.
The Luxembourg City municipality has also been working for some time to promote respectful behaviour on buses. Since 2019, the Bon Comportement dans les bus (Good Behaviour on Buses) campaign has been regularly displayed on AVL buses. In 2025, the topic of appropriate volume on buses was explicitly added to the campaign.
According to Schwarz, egoism is not always the reason behind such behaviour. Sometimes people are simply so absorbed in their smartphones that they do not realise how loud they are being. She said: “At the same time, the social environment also plays a role. If it is common behaviour within someone’s social circle, they are more likely to do it themselves.”
The solution however is ultimately simple: headphones on. Screen time becomes a private moment again – and everyone else gets a little more peace too.
