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A Smarter Way to Binge—Without Wasting Resources
Before you hit “play” on that next video or music track, take 10 seconds to check if you’re actually watching or listening—or just letting it run in the background. If you’re not using it, pause or close the tab.
This small, conscious habit helps reduce digital energy waste—and supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Why This Matters
- The internet consumes more electricity than the entire aviation industry—about 7% of global power demand is tied to data centers, networks, and devices (Source: IEA, 2023).
- Streaming one hour of video on a phone can emit up to 55g of CO₂—that’s the equivalent of driving a gas-powered car 250 meters (Source: The Shift Project).
- Autoplay, background streams, or open tabs waste power, strain networks, and increase server load—all of which add to your invisible environmental footprint.
How to Apply It
- Before starting a video, ask: Will I watch this now—or just let it run?
- Close auto-playing tabs or stop idle background media.
- When walking away from your screen, hit “pause”—you can come back later!
Try this once per day, and you’ll quickly notice how often media runs that no one is actually using.
How This Supports SDG 12
- Reduces unnecessary energy consumption across global data infrastructure.
- Encourages intentional digital use, reducing digital waste and server strain.
- Builds awareness of the physical impact of online actions, promoting more sustainable tech behavior.
- Contributes to lower carbon emissions from streaming and cloud activity.
Bottom Line
Watch what you watch. Stream with purpose.
Digital responsibility starts with one pause.