Commuters express frustration over passengers watching videos with the volume turned up, especially among the elderly.

In Singapore, one of the biggest annoyances for public transport commuters is passengers who watch videos with the volume turned up, disturbing others. A recent post in the Complaint Singapore group sparked widespread agreement, with users sharing their frustrations about fellow passengers loudly playing videos on their phones. One user described it as “so annoying” to see people immersed in their “drama mama world,” with the noise spilling into the public space.

Many people pointed out that the issue is particularly common among elderly commuters who don’t use earphones or earpods. One user even humorously mentioned that they would sit next to these passengers and play their own music loudly in retaliation: “You can, I cannot?” Another user acknowledged that seniors may be hard of hearing and not as tech-savvy, adding that while many commuters tolerate the behavior, some are simply oblivious to the annoyance they cause.

The issue was further highlighted when another user shared a video of a young passenger watching a social media video with the volume on full blast, captioning it: “Inconsiderate pax turning on (volume) so loud.” Responses poured in, with some users sharing similar experiences, including one involving an elderly woman on a bus.

A recent online poll conducted by The Straits Times shed light on commuters’ biggest pet peeves. Among 11,485 respondents, the top complaint was watching videos without earphones, which garnered 48.6% of the votes. Other significant annoyances included passengers boarding buses or trains before others could alight (30.8%) and commuters placing their belongings on seats (14.6%). Blocking grab poles also ranked as a notable irritant, receiving 6% of the votes.

This growing frustration highlights the need for greater consideration and awareness among commuters about how their actions affect others in the shared space of public transport.