What is actually okay to do in public – and who decided that? Every day, we navigate invisible rules about how we’re expected to behave on public transport, at work or out on the street. It can be about how loudly we speak, what we eat or how we look. In this article, we take a look at how the line between private and public behaviour has shifted – and what that tells us about us as a society.
Between Private and Public – A Shift in Everyday Habits
We’re living in a time where daily life is more mobile and flexible than ever before. We work from various locations, stream films on the bus and take video calls in the supermarket queue. What seemed unthinkable in public spaces just a few years ago has now become more or less normal.
But as private behaviours increasingly spill into public spaces, a subtle change is taking shape – one that values calm and discretion in shared spaces. Rather than drawing attention, many people are beginning to seek ways of blending their habits quietly into everyday life.
This shift can also be seen in the kinds of products people gravitate towards – often those that respect the shared space around them. That might mean silent electric vehicles, snug-fitting headphones – or nicotine pouches. Many people now choose products that allow them to maintain their routines without drawing attention. One example is Zyn, a tobacco-free nicotine pouch that can be used without being seen or smelled.
Who Draws the Line? Norms, Power and Unwritten Rules
Public spaces are full of rules. Some are written into law, others are simply enforced through glances and social feedback. Chewing gum with your mouth open, playing music without headphones or talking too loudly on the phone might provoke irritation – even though none of it is illegal. But why? And who actually decides what’s acceptable?
Norms don’t arise in a vacuum. They’re shaped by culture, history and power structures. Not long ago, it was completely normal to smoke in restaurants, in open-plan offices or even on planes. Similarly, there were times when wearing a tie at work or enforcing skirt lengths at school came with strict – though often unspoken – expectations.
Today, those behaviours seem clearly outdated. This shift is the result of both deliberate decisions and gradual changes in what we consider acceptable. In that way, social norms function like a kind of invisible contract between people – but it’s rarely obvious who authored it.
Quiet Consumption – A New Kind of Presence
Being present doesn’t necessarily mean being visible any longer. Many of us now carry around tech and tools that let us live a quiet, but connected life. We listen to podcasts through headphones and check in with colleagues via messaging apps without saying a word out loud.
The same applies to consumption. Where we once might have signalled a certain lifestyle through clothes, accessories or public habits, we’re now seeing more people seeking the opposite – discretion, simplicity and anonymity. Products that don’t make noise, leave a scent or attract attention blend unobtrusively into daily life, allowing people to act without standing out. It’s not necessarily about shame, but about having control over when and how you share your choices.
This kind of consumption is becoming more visible across different areas of life – from how we work and communicate, to the kinds of products we choose. Whether it’s how we manage stress, stay connected, or maintain small routines during the day, low-key options like nicotine pouches and fidget tools reflect a shift in how people balance personal needs with social surroundings.
In a way, this also reflects a growing need for privacy: the right to our routines without making them anyone else’s business. But what we choose to keep private – and how we do it – is still shaped by social expectations. Even discreet habits are influenced by unwritten rules about what’s acceptable in shared spaces. In the end, the line between private and public is not fixed – it’s drawn and redrawn every day, by all of us.