The recent increase in data cost that Nigerians have been forced to bear is nearly intolerable. For every aspect of their lives that requires a digital connection, it is now difficult to navigate without expediting too much data. Social media is a key victim of this issue. The good news is, you don’t have to give up your favorite apps to save data. With the right settings and habits, you can still engage online while keeping your data usage low. Here’s how you can stay social media-connected without sacrificing a thing.
Adjust Auto-Play and Video Quality
Massive amounts of data are drained with each social media use through watching videos. Apps like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and sometimes Snapchat or Twitter are major players in this issue. To reduce this, go into your app settings and turn off auto-play or set it to Wi-Fi only. Additionally, on YouTube and TikTok, reduce video quality to 480p or lower to save data while streaming.
Use Lite Versions of Social Media
When you hear of the “Lite” version of an app, you may immediately feel this is the rendition of an application that is constructed to give you less. In reality, the “Lite” versions are designed to use less data and work smoothly on slower networks.
Apps like Facebook Lite, Instagram Lite, and Twitter Lite reduce image and video sizes and thus cut down data usage significantly. If you’d like to get this version but still stay loyal to the full renditions of these apps, you can always use the “Lite” model in your social media browser to save space on having to download the app.
Download Content for Offline Viewing
Platforms like YouTube and Netflix allow users to download videos for offline viewing. Instead of streaming videos repeatedly and wasting data on each re-watch, download your favourite content while connected to Wi-Fi and view it later.
The concept is the same for music. On apps like Spotify and Apple Music, downloading favourite albums or playlists to listen offline will help save the data it takes to play them online.
Turn Off Background Data
Many social media apps continue consuming data even when you’re not actively using them. To stop this, go to your phone’s settings, find “Data Usage” or “App Settings,” and disable background data for apps that don’t need constant updates. This will prevent apps from loading content in the background, helping you save data.
Use Data Bundles for Social Media
You can also curb the issue at the root and simply buy a data plan tailored to these social media apps. Most Nigerian telecom providers offer data plans specifically for social media apps.
MTN, Airtel, and 9mobile all have social media bundles that give access to WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These apps are effective because specific bundles tend to be cheaper than general ones. So, if you solely use data for social media, subscribing to one of these plans can be a cost-effective option.
Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible
Finally, whenever you have access to Wi-Fi, use it to the best of your advantage. Ensure you do the majority of your downloads, updates, and heavy browsing sessions when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
Conclusion: Use More Social Media for Less
While it’s not always easy to minimize data usage, with a few smart browsing habits and setting changes, it is possible. You can stay active on social media without worrying about expensive data costs. The key is to be intentional with how and when you use your internet, so you can stay connected in an inexpensive way.
What do you think about these tips and tricks? Are there any other ways you like to minimize your data usage? Let us know down below. For a similar article, click here.
