Social Media Addiction Can Drain Data

Smartphone users who frequently switch between social media platforms or use streaming apps like Netflix have been advised to turn off a settings feature to avoid unexpected data roaming charges. Pierre Coppin, Deputy Managing Director at Sky Mobile, explains that closing unused apps and disabling auto-play can help prevent unnecessary data usage. Videos that autoload in the background when the app is opened consume data without users' knowledge.

How to Disable Auto-Play

For Netflix, a guide on disabling auto-play can be found on SE's website. To turn off auto-play on apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, users can go to the settings section within each app. The option to disable auto-play can usually be found under Mobile Data or Video and Photos settings.

Shop Around for the Best Data Deals

If users frequently find themselves running out of data each month, it is advised to explore different data plans and benefits offered by various network providers. Sky Mobile offers a "piggybank" feature where unused data rolls over each month, allowing customers to reuse it, share it with other SIMs, or even get discounts on new handsets and accessories. Vodafone, EE, and O2 also have similar data rollover schemes.