YSK While cracking knuckles does not lead to arthritis, listening to music at too high a volume definitely does cause ear damage.

Growing up, I cracked my knuckles a lot, and my mom always told me to fear arthritis. Of course, it's now a modern myth.

However.. While I cracked my way through high school, I also had music blasting through speakers/earphones constantly. That didn't go as well, given I now have Tinnitus, which leads to constant ringing and buzzing noises when I listen to music over a certain volume.

I just felt these two warnings are one we all get as a kid, and while one is a myth, the other should totally be understood and respected or it will cause real problems in the future.