Trendy or Protective: Wired Headphones
“Airpods are frying our brains with radiation!”
Scream the athletes, celebrities, and other wealthy individuals. They have been seen wearing wired headphones more than usual. Aaron Rodgers said he wears them to protect his brain, so now the internet believes it. Let’s look at the science behind it.
Videos on social media have been speculating on the reasoning behind why athletes are seen wearing wired headphones more frequently before games, during workouts, or just about in their daily lives.
Many videos show people explaining that they wear them to prevent the risks caused by radiation and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by wireless devices.
The growing concern about prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields has seen an increase, and videos suggest that headphones being so close to the brain emit too much radiation.
That sounds like it could be a real conclusion regarding the switch, but EMF exposure is a part of our daily lives everywhere. It’s not just AirPods or headphones. The true science shows that more radiation comes from the actual phone itself than any kind of headphone, so if it’s still attached to you, what is really being prevented?
According to a study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute, “no scientific evidence establishes a definite link between wireless device use and cancer and other illnesses.”
To be fair, nobody can say they know the long-term effects of wireless technology because it's only been around for so long, so what can science really say?
For now, what we know is that wireless devices operate using RF (radiofrequency), but the levels of radiation emitted are typically considerably low and are not cancer-causing. It’s also worth considering that the emissions from wireless headphones are non-ionizing, making them less harmful than ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or CT scans.
Then again, my mom would always scream at me for standing in front of the microwave because of the radiation. They use non-ionizing radiation, meaning it doesn't have enough energy to directly damage DNA, but it's still advisable to keep a distance.
What is needed is more research and studies into this matter. There is no research found that links RF radiation to health effects, but the term 'radiation' itself conveys its meaning. So it’s really a question of how cautious you want to be about potential risks that haven't been directly found, but probably exist.
Perhaps the increase in the wear of wired headphones is for the convenience of not having to charge them, knowing they are easily accessible, and are typically reliable. At the same time, what good are the floating wires waiting to get caught on something, being bound to fall out, just always in the way, and tangled up?
They aren't practically practical, yet some are convinced that the switch will protect their brain, which could be true, but for now, it is mere opinion, not based on studies.
Personally, the music from the gym speakers doesn’t get me through the horror of the stairmaster. I need the loud, headphoned music in my ears, preventing me from hearing any kind of background commotion. I think it’s important to be aware of the things we do and the technology that is new to the world.
With no studies on all this new technology that rapidly entered our world, how can we say something is or isn’t harmful when it hasn’t lived out a full life cycle yet? It will be interesting to see how our generation fares in terms of health when we are older. We could just all be deaf from the need to blast music in our ears, but that’s for another article.
Strike Out,
Kaden Horn
Boca Raton
Kaden Horn is a content writer for Strike Magazine, Boca. She is a free-spirited Leo who loves to write humorously, but also in a way that is intentional and meaningful. She thrives in peaceful environments, whether it’s at the beach, working out, or rewatching Vampire Diaries for the 100th time. You can reach her at kaden.horn813@gmail.com, or her Instagram @kadennhunter
Cover Image Courtesy: Gotham / GC Images
