Your mindless internet browsing is cooking the planet
We all do it … boredom, restlessness, etc … we scroll around, we browse around looking for something to distract us, to help us forget important things. Doom scrolling, mindless internet browsing, or whatever you call it … it’s cooking the planet according to a new study from The Ecologist.
It’s not, however, your internet use that’s the problem per se … it’s the marketing and the ads!
Research shows that digital marketing now produces more carbon emissions than aviation. Data centres, which power everything from websites to social media and digital ads, account for 2.5 per cent of global CO2 emissions – more than the entire aviation industry at 2.1 per cent. And as the internet grows, so does its footprint.
The Ecologist
That’s a general broad statement and they go on with a specific example.
A single online ad campaign delivering one million impressions generates the same carbon emissions as a round trip flight from Boston to London.
The Ecologist
A great reminder that some of our seemingly harmless actions, actually cause harm – greatly! An article worth reposting would have suggestions on what / how we can change our behaviors to help, right? This author jumps in with suggestion for us browser types as well as the marketing types.
Reducing digital carbon doesn’t mean stopping digital marketing altogether. It means making smarter choices, such as:
- Reducing unnecessary emails – internal emails, automated follow ups, and generic newsletters add up. Cutting back saves carbon and improves engagement.
- Optimising content formats – using compressed images and lightweight videos can significantly reduce data loads.
- Choosing sustainable hosting – switching to providers powered by renewable energy can make a big difference.
- Rethinking ad targeting – prioritising high-engagement placements over mass impressions reduces waste.
- Simplifying website design – lighter pages load faster and use less energy.
The Ecologist
Our key question is … what will I do differently?
