Wearing a pair of headphones while you walk around has been a thing since the days of tape decks. Blasting tunes can be really soothing when you have to be out in public.
But while the wearer might be looking to disconnect from the wider world, it's this disconnection that can become dangerous.
A TikToker shared a frightening story to spread awareness.
Depending on the volume of what you're listening, or the possibility that the headphones are of the noise-canceling variety, sounds from the outside world can be shut out entirely.
Also, it's generally obvious when someone is wearing headphones.
With headphones in and volume way up, Lyss was watching a video on her phone as she walked down the street.
This had her fully focused on the video rather than her surroundings.
What she didn't realize was that a man had been following her.
Thanks to a helpful stranger who gave her a heads-up, Lyss was able to get back to her apartment safely.
But the experience left her shaken, and had her vowing to never let her guard down again.
"I don't even want to walk outside in New York without having a friend near me or someone next to me," said @lyss.
Fortunately, she seems to have learned from the incident and not let it deter her, as she shot the TikTok while walking down a crowded street with no headphones.
With so much media available on our phones, and a wide range of awesome headphones available to us, it's more tempting than ever to zone out in public.
But lowering your guard can have scary consequences.
You can view the full video below, in which @lyss recounts the full story.
Have you ever had a scary encounter like this? How did you handle it? Be sure to share your stories and tips in the comments section!
