Smartphone users are burning through more data than ever, and streaming platforms are leading the charge. A new analysis by TRG Datacenters shows Google-owned YouTube consumes more mobile data than any other app, using an average of 69.4 bytes a month. More than 90% of that usage comes from background activity.
The study compared 30 of the world’s most popular iOS and Android apps, measuring both active and background data use alongside monthly user activity. The findings highlight how video-centric and social apps are placing the heaviest strain on consumers’ mobile data plans. On average, users now consume more than 11 gigabytes a month, a 40% increase from just two years ago.