Internet customers are using significantly more data during 2020, in large part due to COVID-19 restrictions allowing people to spend more time watching Netflix from the comfort of their homes. Whether it’s Netflix, Xbox or TikTok, new data shows the difference in data usage for popular internet activities over the last year.
According to data from Verizon, streaming devices and gaming consoles saw the largest uptick in daily data consumption between 2019 and 2020. The average daily data usage for streaming devices and gaming consoles rose by nearly 50 percent over the last year during the months between January May. Connected TVs also saw a similar rise in data usage, followed closely by data consumption for traditional computers and phones.
Streaming and gaming services have both seen historic increases in users and subscriptions over the past six months, and companies are continuing to search for new ways to capitalize on the growing wave of content and data consumption. Netflix, Amazon Prime and other video streaming services continue to push out new shows and movies, while Microsoft and Sony gear up for the release of their much anticipated next-generation gaming consoles this November. With colder weather and continued COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. pushing more people inside, expect data usage to keep soaring into 2021.
