Audiologists and health bodies including the WHO, Mayo Clinic and the Hearing Health Foundation recommend the "60-60 rule" for headphone and earbud users: keep volume at no more than 60% of maximum and limit continuous listening to 60 minutes before resting the ears. The guidance is aimed at curbing rising rates of noise-induced hearing loss, particularly among young people, with the WHO estimating over a billion young people are at risk from recreational noise exposure and the NIDCD finding roughly 17% of teenagers already show signs of damage.

The rule is based on established noise-safety research. Sustained exposure to 85 decibels or more risks long-term hearing damage, and at 60% volume most devices sit around 75-85 dB, allowing roughly eight hours of safe listening. Under the "3 dB exchange rate," every 3 dB increase halves the safe exposure time, so 91 dB cuts safe listening to two hours and 100 dB to just 15 minutes; AirPods can reach 105-110 dB at full volume, a level capable of causing damage within minutes. The article also advises setting a volume cap via iPhone's Headphone Safety settings, heeding Apple's listening warnings, and notes warning signs of hearing loss such as tinnitus, muffled speech and needing ever-higher volumes.