The internet has become crucial in our daily lives, with many unable to envision life without it. As a Telecommunications company once coined ‘Data is Life’. Another growing phrase on Ghanaian social media is ‘in Ghana, all you need is data’ – all to emphasize its importance. These phrases highlight the internet’s vital role, making internet data as essential as air. Its significance cannot be overstated – internet data is almost as crucial as oxygen.
Despite its importance, data remains costly in Ghana. While structural and political factors contribute to the recent price surge, our personal lifestyle choices also play a role. Unfortunately, the upward trend in data prices is expected to continue.
So how can we get the most out of our data without feeling the pinch of high costs? Here are the biggest consumers of data and how we can check them through some lifestyle changes.
- Be Selective with Apps.
Apps are the biggest consumers of data. High data usage on your smartphone is often attributed to activities like streaming movies, music, and games, as well as updating apps, and downloading and uploading files. Video calls made through apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Zoom significantly contribute to increased data consumption. Some people also download apps that are really unnecessary like weight loss apps that promise unrealistic outcomes, or apps that claim to cool down or protect your phone against viruses. A lot of Apps means more data usage. It is advisable to work with apps that is truly relevant to your lifestyle. It’s okay to have only Facebook Messenger without Facebook. Any app you basically don’t use is useless.
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“Most apps today render high-resolution videos and streaming which is quite intensive. Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, just to name a few but most social media apps now support the upload of high-quality videos so none of them is truly exempt,” Sedem Haibor, a Web Engineer and Machine Learning enthusiast told The Accra Times.
2. Adult content
Random visual content can drain your data, explicit content, including pornography, is known to consume significant amounts of internet data. While some experts debate the issue, Haibor suggests that “the problem lies not with the content itself, but rather with the high quality of the content.”
“The widespread availability of high-resolution cameras on even the most basic smartphones contributes to increased data usage, as they produce high-quality photos and videos that require more data to transmit,” he added.
Pornhub accounts for 100 million of users and it’s reported to be a clear leader within the industry. This substantial traffic has sparked concerns that network service providers hike prices for consumers. Meanwhile, a recent study found that in 2023, Ghanaians predominantly accessed betting and adult sites, which topped the list of most visited websites in the country.
3. Use WiFi
As a general rule, WiFi is always a better alternative. You cut your phone’s data usage with ease by connecting to WiFi whenever you can. Set up ‘auto connect’ at your regular hangouts, but remember to keep your personal info safe on public networks by steering clear of online transactions and banking apps to avoid falling prey to scams.
4. Background Apps
Another reason why your internet data disappears so quickly is because of background data usage, even when your phone is idle. This feature keeps apps updated, but it also siphons your data and battery life. A lot of background apps require data to keep updating things like your location. Fortunately, you can take control by disabling background data and closing unnecessary apps. Check your Android settings; Go to: (Settings > Connections > Data usage > Data saver)
If it’s an iPhone, go to Settings (Settings > General > Background App Refresh) to make adjustments.
Selectively restrict apps to align with your usage habits.
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5. Download with WiFi, not Your Small bundle
Resist the urge to download songs or TV episodes without WiFi, as this can quickly deplete your data. Those attractive special bundle offers on Telecel or MTN will be exhausted before you finish downloading. To avoid this, reset apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Binge to only download content over WiFi. Additionally, refrain from streaming, or playing video games, on cellular data, as it can rapidly consume your data allowance.
Instead, download what you need while connected to WiFi, allowing you to enjoy your content guilt-free and without worrying about data depletion. Service providers may not be perfect, but they occasionally offer packages that fit your needs temporarily.
“When looking to choose a service provider, you need to look at the value of the package they offer for price and choose what offers value for money. Which network you choose might also depend on where you need it the most as some of the service providers don’t have good coverage in certain areas,” Haibor said.
“For example, how much is the price of 1GB of data across all service providers. But after doing that check, you need to look at coverage because if you just go for the cheapest one and their coverage is bad where you need it, the 1GB won’t do anything for you as the quality of service won’t match what you need it for. So it’s a combination of factors. Not just one,” he added
6. Use a monitoring App
A data monitoring app provides transparency into how your data is being used, identifying which apps are consuming the most. Some brands, such as Samsung, offer built-in features that help you identify inactive or unnecessary apps in your daily routine, enabling you to optimize your data usage and app management.
