How can I use social networks in an eco-responsible way?

‍

By the time you go to bed tonight, chances are you've looked at your phone dozens of times during the day, not least to check your social networks. But while these platforms connect us on a global scale, their environmental impact often goes unnoticed. How can you reduce your digital footprint? Here's how.

Just as making small changes in your daily life can considerably reduce your emissions (second-hand goods, eating less meat, limiting your commute...), so too can your use of social networks. Here are a few tips that apply to both professional and personal activities.

Scroller is not as innocent as it seems

Most social networking is done via a smartphone. Just one hour of daily use emits 172g of CO2. In one year, it exceeds the emissions of a flight from London to Paris. You think that's a lot? According to Global WebIndex's worldwide research, 62.3% of the world's population uses social networks, and the average daily usage is 2 hours and 23 minutes (April 2024). This represents an average of 60 kgEqCO2 (CO2 equivalent) per person per year, or 1% of the carbon impact of each French person.

How can you reduce your carbon footprint on social networks?

To reduce your carbon footprint, there's no need to go back to the flip phone. The first step is to understand what generates the most CO2 in your use of social networks. Are you a big consumer of YouTube videos? Or are you more the type to scroll for hours a day on Instagram and TikTok? Whether you're a business or an inveterate scroller, note that not all social platforms are equal when it comes to their impact on the planet. Platforms that share multimedia content and auto-play videos are ranked among the most polluting platforms, while those that are mainly text-based (like X, ex-Twitter) produce far less.

Be eco-responsible by focusing on your favorite social networks

Let's face it, who hasn't spent an hour on a social network only to find that their time has been wasted? Yes, kitten videos are cute, but are they necessary? Choosing to consume social networks in an eco-responsible way means being able to select the accounts or people whose content you appreciate the most, and unsubscribe from those that mean the least.

You can also decide to limit the number of your social networks. Give priority to your favorite platforms and, in the case of a company, identify those that are best suited to your activity. For example, mission-driven company YOTTA has chosen not to be present on TikTok, Pinterest and Snapchat, the social networks with the highest carbon impact. To limit its presence on Instagram, the company has opted for a fixed Feed. Finally, it regularly publishes on social networks with a low carbon impact: LinkedIn and Facebook.

Connection time: an essential lever for reducing your carbon footprint

According to a study by Hootsuite and We Are Social in 2021, the average time spent per month by an individual was around 12 h on YouTube for 21 h on TikTok. While additional parameters such as the total length of videos or the completion rate (did the surfer watch the entire video) do not allow for a simplistic multiplication (1 min on TikTok vs. 1 min on YouTube), we can nevertheless assume that the amount of data transferred will be higher on average on the Chinese platform.

To control your connection time, start by identifying the applications you consult most and which take up most of your screen time, and limit their use with dedicated apps or built-in timers. You can also set your phone aside at certain times of the day (at the dinner table, for example). And to avoid being solicited, deactivate notifications.

To reduce your footprint on social networks, pay attention to video length and format.

Videos are the most consumed format. Does this mean we should stop consuming videos? Not necessarily, especially as it's an extremely trendy format. It's all a question of usage. The big difference between YouTube and TikTok or Instagram is that the former doesn't launch videos automatically. As a result, Internet users are more selective. The carbon impact is therefore lower. But video length isn't the only thing you need to consider. Do you prefer 720p (an HD format) or 4K (an ultra HD format)? For Elisa Boivin, Managing Director of Footsprint, an agency that has carried out an evaluation of the impact of influencer marketing: " You have to resist the temptation to go for the highest resolution. " If it generates more CO2 emissions, it also has some disadvantages. " When you take the highest resolution, you make an implicit compromise on loading time ". What about quality? " It is now estimated that a video viewed in 720p generates 50% fewer emissions than in 1080p (Full HD), with no visible loss of quality on a smartphone ", says Footsprint's CEO. You can therefore consume less energy by adapting the resolution to the device you're using. On YouTube, for example, 480p on a phone is considered sufficient resolution.

Your connection type affects your fingerprint

Beyond the formats consumed, it is estimated that using Wi-Fi consumes on average 5 times less energy than the cellular network. Should you stop checking your social networks if you don't have a Wi-Fi connection? Here again, don't panic: the answer is No. However, you can reserve video viewing for times when you have a Wi-Fi connection. Last but not least, it's a good idea to use the "low data" modes, which reduce the use of network data (which consumes energy), available in the application settings. Not only does this help you reduce your carbon footprint, it also has the advantage of limiting the amount of data you consume (eco-friendly and thrifty, in short).

Limit your footprint on social networks by being mindful of your activity

If what you browse impacts your carbon footprint, so does what you post. Posting a video, sending a selfie, sharing a gif or meme, creating a carousel or simply liking a post... it all weighs down. Some activities can be more energy-intensive. Always ask yourself before posting if you can do without them. But social networking is also about DMs, which for many of us have replaced the good old SMS. Communication is now more face-to-face or via audio messages. Here too, you should always ask yourself: is what you have to say really that important? Can it be done differently, or via another less energy-intensive channel?

Last tip: use dark mode for your applications. As well as being good for the planet, it's good for your eyes.

‍