When did it become OK to blast TikToks in public? | It's Been a Minute

There are deep roots behind the latest entry into public noise. It’s a now-common scenario: you’re using public transit, or waiting at the airport, or dining in a restaurant, when you hear the tinny music and computerized voice-overs of someone scrolling TikTok – no headphones. This aggravated All Things Considered producer and writer Manuela López Restrepo (https://www.npr.org/people/1004889801...) enough to look into it. And what she found was a rich history of how public noise works in our culture: who is allowed to make (or avoid it), who gets punished – and the companies that seem to get off scot-free. Manuela shares her reporting with Brittany and they dive deep into the politics and policy of noise. For more episodes about culture and civic life, check out: Is your neighborhood riddled with dog poop? (https://www.npr.org/2026/06/01/nx-s1-...) The safety and power of knowing your neighbors (https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-...) Is your city shaped by yuppie taste? (https://www.npr.org/2026/08/10/nx-s1-...) Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org (http://plus.npr.org/) . See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy (https://www.npr.org/about-npr/1798784...)