Smartphone data use is rising rapidly, with video streaming generally among the biggest contributors, although social media, video calls, software updates, cloud backups and music streaming can also consume substantial amounts. The article says usage varies by person and settings, but reducing video quality and restricting background activity can significantly limit consumption.

Global mobile traffic is currently estimated at 150–200 exabytes per month and is forecast to reach 328 exabytes by 2031, while average smartphone use has risen from 4.9GB to more than 20GB monthly. YouTube can use over 15GB per hour in 4K, Netflix up to 7GB and Prime Video nearly 6.8GB; video calls, social platforms and major software updates can also use hundreds of megabytes or several gigabytes.