"Barbershop in Los Angeles Uses 'Baby Shark' Song as Sonic Deterrent for Homeless Gatherings"

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"Barbershop in Los Angeles Uses 'Baby Shark' Song as Sonic Deterrent for Homeless Gatherings"

[!CDATA[A barbershop in Los Angeles has found a unique way to deter homeless people from gathering outside their storefront. The CEO of Styles Barber Lounge, Shalom Styles, installed security cameras that make noise when someone moves nearby. Initially, the cameras beeped, but Styles found it ineffective. Now, a speaker above the shop plays the popular children's song "Baby Shark" to encourage people to move along or prompt the city to address the issue. The speaker is directed towards an encampment near the store, where Styles has encountered disruptive behavior in the past. He shared an incident where a nude woman caused a disturbance outside his shop, emphasizing the need for a solution to prevent such incidents. This tactic of using "Baby Shark" as a sonic deterrent is not unique to Styles Barber Lounge. In 2019, a luxury venue in West Palm Beach, Florida, played children's songs, including "Baby Shark," to discourage people from sleeping on their patio. Other businesses have also utilized devices like the Mosquito, which emits a high-pitch noise only audible to individuals under 25, to deter loitering and vandalism. While some argue that sonic deterrents are necessary for maintaining order, others criticize them as discriminatory and disruptive to nearby residents. The debate surrounding the use of such methods continues, with differing opinions on their effectiveness and ethical implications. Styles Barber Lounge has not responded to requests for comment on their use of "Baby Shark" as a deterrent.]]