Depending on whose stats and projections you look at, the amount of Internet traffic that was either streaming or downloading video in 2022 is somewhere between 80% and 82%, with around 18% of all internet traffic being users viewing live streams.
This includes all kinds of video media, from YouTube and TikTok through to streaming platforms like Twitch (and again, YouTube), and TV and movie streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus. It would also include private video communications over things like Zoom and Facetime.
But just why has video taken over the way we use the internet?
Technology
One of the main reasons we watch so much video media and use video as a regular means of communication now, is simply that we can. Every modern smartphone has the capacity to record or stream good quality video, meaning most internet users have everything they need to make video calls or record video content in their pockets. Even the hardware you need to stream or make video at a professional level is easy to come by and relatively affordable, and this includes tools for non-camera-based video content like animation. This means anyone can generate video content, contributing to there being huge amounts of it uploaded to the main platforms every minute.
Infrastructure
On the infrastructure side, fast internet speeds for both mobile and fiber optic internet use, along with unlimited data plans, mean that many users can watch video instantly with no buffering or other issues that ruin the experience, and can make video calls with no issues. With access to fast internet from providers like this internet service Wentzville, MO, people tend to make the most of the multimedia content available to them.
The Move Towards Streaming Services
Another big contributing factor in terms of just how much internet traffic is now video is the rise of streaming services for things that would previously have been served on traditional TV or in movie theaters. Netflix disrupted the market when it first came on the scene, giving its subscribers access to a huge library of entertainment to watch on demand, for a price that was significantly lower than things like cable TV subscriptions. As it began creating its own original shows and movies, it became even more of an alternative to traditional TV, and it wasn’t long before other companies started to follow suit.
With major media companies like Disney now making high profile content that can only be viewed on their streaming platform, it is clear that the industry as a whole is prioritizing streaming, and this naturally means more consumers viewing their media online instead of watching TV broadcasts.
With the technology and infrastructure to support it in the hands of most internet users, and endless amounts of content being produced by everyone from the biggest media companies through to ordinary people, it is no surprise that video has become such a majority in terms on traffic.
