Scrolling through social media or sending a quick text may feel like trivial activities, but they come with an often ignored environmental impact. According to new research from cloud cost optimisation platform CloudZero, the tech industry is responsible for around 7% of global carbon emissions, a number that’s expected to rise. Among the biggest contributors is “doom scrolling” – a term for endlessly browsing through social media. A single person scrolling social media produces around 968 grammes of CO2 per day, the same as driving a car for 2.4 miles.

CloudZero’s research breaks down the carbon footprint of common online activities, highlighting the startling impact of our digital habits. From social media use to emails and text messages, the study reveals just how much CO2 is generated by everyday online interactions.

TikTok takes the lead in CO2 emissions among social media platforms, with users averaging 95 minutes of scrolling each day, emitting 250 grammes of CO2. Instagram follows with 50 grammes, while Facebook and YouTube contribute 26 grammes and 9 grammes, respectively. Annually, this adds up to the equivalent of flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back, purely from social media activity alone.

Additionally, Gen Z stands out as the most significant contributor when it comes to text messaging, producing 652.3 grammes of CO2 per year – equivalent to the emissions from driving a car for three miles. For the average US resident sending 61 texts daily, that’s 310 grammes of CO2 a year, comparable to charging a mobile phone 32 times.

Work emails, too, contribute to the problem. A year’s worth of sending work-related emails results in 2,028 grammes of CO2, the same as driving five miles in a petrol-powered car.

Reducing the tech carbon footprint

Bill Buckley, senior vice president of engineering at CloudZero, stresses the importance of reducing the carbon footprint of online activities to pave the way for a sustainable future. He suggests several methods to cut down on energy consumption:

• Optimise cloud usage. Regularly monitor cloud resources to avoid unnecessary consumption, which helps lower energy use and costs. Tools like CloudZero assist businesses in tracking their energy consumption, making it easier to identify waste and reduce emissions.
• Reduce everyday energy consumption. Turning off devices when not in use and deleting unneeded files can significantly lower energy use. For individuals, adopting these habits daily can help, while businesses should consider implementing company-wide guidelines to amplify the effect.
• Choose sustainable hosting. Websites hosted on energy-efficient servers can have a noticeable impact on reducing carbon footprints. Switching to eco-friendly hosting providers that use renewable energy and energy-efficient infrastructure is a critical step for businesses.

These simple steps can make a significant difference in mitigating the environmental cost of our digital habits, helping both consumers and businesses contribute to a greener future.