I use headphones all the time, both earbuds and headsets alike, since they let me listen to music without others hearing.
I too use headphones from time to time. It helps me shout off the rest of the world.
So many people use headphones nowadays, or what some people call earspeakers, earphones, or even cans!
Yes, I have noticed what seems to be a larger number of people wearing them in public. I wonder why?
Most people in public wear earbuds, because tons of people want to listen to music in public and they go in your ear so they are less noticeable.
I tend to see people wearing the larger headphones in public. I believe you referred to them as cans?
That's one more colloquial way of referring to them (I usually call them headphones), and really? I usually see earbuds.