How Much Data does YouTube ( or your favourite internet streaming passtime ) Consume

With the advent of better internet access in developing markets, more and more people are turning to internet streaming as a source of their entertainment. There is a plethora of free and paid-for streaming services available (YouTube, Netflix, Roku etc) which offer a reasonable alternative to traditional subscription video services ( Digital Satellite TV / Cable TV  etc ). The two challenges faced by the wanna-be streaming user are: internet speeds, and data caps. This article will assume that you are on a service which has a stable internet speed (512kbps and above), and will focus on answering the question : "how much data does my streaming consume?" 

I have scoured a few blogs and the FAQ's of YouTube, Netflix and Roku to attempt to answer your burning question. Armed with this information, you will be better able to evaluate your internet connection and compare it with your traditional video subscription. Without further ado, here goes!

Below are the Internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing TV shows and movies through Netflix.

• 0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
• 1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
• 3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality
• 5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
• 25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality

Watching TV shows or movies on Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition (SD) video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of high definition HD video. Downloading and streaming consume a similar amount of data.

Source :https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87

How much data do you need to watch YouTube?

• A low quality video uses about 1,5MB per minute.
• A Full HD (1080p) YouTube video uses about 12MB per minute.
• YouTube data usage varies greatly depending on the quality of the stream.

YouTube Usage	240p	360p	480p	720p	1080p
Per min.	1.6MB	2.66MB	4MB	7.4MB	12.4MB
Per hour	100MB	160MB	240MB	450MB	750MB

Source : https://www.whistleout.com.au/Broadband/Guides/Broadband-Usage-Guide

So, with all this information at your fingertips, you can now do the math and see if your regular TV subscription is better off being replaced by a good internet connection with a decent data cap coupled with a subscription to Netflix or any of the other free video streaming sites. Happy watching!

Extras:

If you are concerned with data caps or bandwidth limits, you can adjust your data usage settings by following the steps below:

Adjust your data usage settings on Netflix

1. Access the Your Account page from a web browser and select Playback Settings.
2. Select your desired data usage setting (please note that each estimate below is per stream, and that restricting data usage may affect video quality):
• Low (0.3 GB per hour)
• Medium (SD: 0.7 GB per hour)
• High (Best video quality, up to 3 GB per hour for HD and 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD)
• Auto (Adjusts automatically to deliver the highest possible quality, based on your current Internet connection speed)

Source : https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306

Changing Video Quality on YouTube?

Change the video quality by going to Settings in the corner of the video player, and selecting your preferred quality.

On mobile devices, adjust quality settings by tapping Menu , then Settings . This option isn’t available on all devices (e.g. some TV/game consoles), or connections (e.g. iOS on a cellular network).

Note that choosing lower video quality (such as 240p and 360p) will make videos start more quickly. The video player will remember this for future playbacks. 

Source : https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/91449?hl=en

Lifting Up a Fallen Hero

Image from Freepik (http://www.freepik.com/free-icon/man-helping-other-to-stand-up-from-the-floor_704623.htm)

In life, we often come across people whom we admire and even idolise. They may be a teacher who made a great impression on us , they may be a mentor who got us to where we are today, they could just be someone whose life we admire. These are the people who are the subject of our "Hero Worship".

One of the most agonising pains to experience, is that felt when ones hero seemingly falls from grace. When the person goes against the very values that they espoused, we can often experience a very physical pain which can lead us to feel disgusted, loathing ourselves for ever having put our faith into a human being.

However, we need to realise two things : the first is that our hero is also on a journey through life, much as ourselves. They will have ups and downs, and we need to make allowance for their misteps along the way. Secondly, we need to realise that they too, are human. They are bound by human nature to err. Our job, when our hero falls ( for whatever reason ), is to be there to lift them up, to shine the light on the right path and help them get back on their feet. In short, we need to become the saviour ( hero ) of our idol.

When we accept the frailty of the human psyche, only then can we help each other grow to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. So don't give up on your idol, but take heart and give them your hand , not your revulsion. Don't be discouraged in yourself, disappointed that you dared to put your faith in another. Always be ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who stumbles.