Today, there are about 4.74 billion active social media users worldwide. According to different specialized sites, they recognize that the average user consumes 147 minutes per day on these platforms, where Whatsapp leads the first place with a monthly use of 1,632 minutes, followed by TikTok (1,206 minutes), Instagram (1,056 minutes), Facebook (930 minutes) and YouTube (834 minutes).
These platforms are identified by being a place to meet and contact friends. In addition, they are used to share multimedia files of all types. Nowadays, they even lead users to lose track of time through addiction to topics of interest that are constantly displayed, such as experiences, ideas, recipes, places to visit, books, movies and thousands of other things.
These multimedia files (photos and videos) end up being the main focuses of attention, consuming a lot of data. As you are not connected to a Wi-Fi network, it is likely that your subscription will be consumed quickly, unless you have a subscription with a large amount of data, which allows indiscriminate browsing on these platforms.
How to save data
Although it is advisable to use Wi-Fi whenever possible, there are other configuration options that allow data saving. The good thing is that each platform has its own characteristics to be able to enjoy without limits and/or without the need to upgrade a plan or buy gigabytes.
How to save data on WhatsApp
Step by step to save data
For several years it has become the most used messenger in Argentina, due to its versatility, speed and ease of use. In fact, it allows you to exchange different types of files, images and videos without too much ado. But each action consumes data, unless we are connected to Wi-Fi or have a plan with unlimited WhatsApp use. Sending a message consumes almost nothing, more or less 1 KB. An audio, on the other hand, varies according to its duration: a minute consumes around 0.138 MB, a call 0.3 MB of data each minute and a video call approximately 6 MB per minute. The sending of files will depend on the size of each one.
But there are some tactics to be able to review the messages without the worry that this will prematurely exhaust the data of the monthly subscription (or settle the prepayment):
- Deactivate the automatic download of multimedia files: This is done from the 3-point menu, selecting the Settings option and then Storage and data. There you can see not only the number of GB sent and received, but in the automatic download section it is possible to establish the types of files (photos, audio, videos or documents) that you want to download according to the type of connection (data or Wi-Fi). Thus, it is possible, for example, to select the option to download all files only when connected to Wi-Fi.
- It is also possible to save data from the same menu when making calls or video calls, simply by selecting that option.
- On the other hand, the backup that WhatsApp allows is highly recommended to keep all files safe. messages, especially useful in case you lose or change your smartphone. But to safeguard this information, it is advisable to tell the messenger to do so only when there is a Wi-Fi connection. To do this, you have to go to the 3-dot menu, then to the Chats option, select Backup and then uncheck the Save using mobile data box.
How to save data on Tik Tok
Step by step to save data
The amount of data consumed by the social network of the moment depends on the duration of the videos uploaded (generally short), but basically they tend to be many. According to data from different portals, using this social network for 5 minutes uses an average of 70 MB, while an hour consumes around 840 MB.
The creators of the social network are very clear about this and know that in general there is not an unlimited amount of data available, which is why they implemented the Save data option. To do this, you must first go to your own profile and then to the 3 points located at the top right of the screen. Once there, select the option Settings and privacy, then Data saving and press the switch to activate it. By having this function active, TikTok reduces the quality of the videos, making data consumption much lower.
In this way, with reduced consumption, expenses are reduced to 40 MB for 5 minutes and 360 MB for an hour.
Another option to save data is to use the Lite version, which reduces data consumption by not running in the background: it only loads the videos at the time of see them.
Vital important fact: when sharing TikTok videos on Instagram, a link is not sent, but rather the multimedia file itself is shared, so it is advisable to do so when connected to a Wi-Fi network.
How to save data on Instagram
Step by step to save data
Its consumption is variable, when viewing an image or visiting a profile the consumption is around 1 or 2 MB. Now, when viewing the stories, that consumption rises to about 3 MB each.
In order to save some data you have to go to the profile photo at the bottom right of the screen, and then select the icon with the three gray lines (or white, if you use dark mode) and there choose Settings and privacy. There you will have to go down to the section called Your app and multimedia content, where there is the option Data usage and quality of multimedia content. Once there, you can select the Data saving option, so that the app does not load the videos automatically; Choose whether high-resolution multimedia files are viewed only when there is a Wi-Fi connection or never at all, and clarify whether multimedia content will be viewed with standard quality or the highest quality possible.
How to save data on Facebook
Step by step to save data
Yes, there are still many people who continue to use one of the oldest social networks, which was the most popular at the time. Although it is now mostly used as a great aid in remembering birthdays, it still comes with many features and options that attract many people. Its consumption per minute is estimated between 1-2 MB, so staying for an hour would consume between 60 and 120 MB. This is without watching videos, because there consumption increases.
To avoid wasting data, you must go to the options menu by clicking on the icon with the three gray lines, and then choose the option Cell phone data usage.
There you can check different boxes that allow you to limit access to multimedia content, such as sounds, photos or videos. It is possible to indicate that it reduces the quality of the videos, that it does not play them automatically or that it does so only with Wifi, that it starts videos with or without sound and other options.
How to save data on YouTube
Step by step to save data
YouTube is synonymous with videos, so data expenditure will be higher than other networks. But that will also depend on their quality: the higher the quality, of course, the greater the data consumption. The expense is estimated more or less as follows:
- 144p resolution: 1.90 MB used per minute
- 240p resolution: 2.70 MB used per minute
- 360p resolution: 4.40 MB used per minute
- 480p resolution: 7.70 MB used per minute
- 720p HD resolution: 14.50 MB used per minute
- 1080p Full HD resolution: 27.61 MB used per minute
Increasingly becoming a serious alternative to traditional TV, the app that allows you to watch, rent and even buy movies, series, documentaries and videos of all kinds also offers options to dim data consumption.
To do this, you will have to go to your own profile, called You (located at the bottom right of the screen), and then open the Settings menu (selecting the nut icon at the top right). There, choose the option Data saving and check the desired options:
- Reduce the quality of the videos
- Upload your own videos only via Wi-Fi connection
- Play without sound in feeds.
Of course, all this can be done in a single step by checking the Data saving mode box, which configures everything automatically.
In addition, there are two others extra options: one to be able to select the quality of each video and the other allows you to set a reminder when you reach a certain amount of mobile data used.
