You may be too old to hear this!
Just recently I read in The New Yorker about this new ring tone that is spreading among students. The ring tone is known as the "Teen Buzz" although I would argue about it being a “buzz”. Anyhow, students are using it in schools because most likely their teachers will not be able to hear the ring tone if their cell phone ever receives a message or simply receives a phone call. I am not talking about the vibrate function that cell phones already have. This ring tone is different; it is a high pitch frequency at 17 KHz and evidently the older you are the more likely you won’t be able to hear the tone. Nonetheless, if you are unable to hear it don’t feel bad, believe me it’s not the next best thing out there!
The ring tone in my opinion is annoying and it makes your teeth cringe. Yes, I can hear it but I personally would hate to hear that pitch during class or while taking a test! You know that aggravating sound that you get from microphones sometimes or when pointing a microphone close to a speaker? If you know what I’m talking about, then you understand why I think the ring tone is very disturbing.
This Teen Buzz probably has the same concept of the dog whistle. If the dog whistle sounds anything close to what the teen Buzz sounds like, I don’t blame the dogs for running back to their owners probably begging and hoping for that sound to stop!
The Teen Buzz is also known as the Mosquito ring tone. Interestingly, this high pitch tone was originally generated by a Welsh security firm to help adults or shopkeepers get rid of teenagers who are loitering or hanging around in areas where they don’t want them to be. To accomplish this, they use, what Malissa Block says is, the Ultrasonic Mosquito Teen Repellent. Teens on the other hand, were clever enough to use the repellent that was used against them and turn it to their advantage; they can now have some form communication among themselves while excluding the older adults from it.
Test your hearing: TeenBuzz Can you hear it?