The Internet is getting emptier; that's a sustainability problem

Creators:: Romain Jacob
Title:: The Internet is getting emptier; that's a sustainability problem
Date:: 2024-12-04
Source:: https://speakerdeck.com/apidays/green-io-conference-at-apidays-paris-2024-the-internet-is-getting-emptier-thats-a-sustainability-problem-romain-jacob-eth-zurich

@Jacob.Vanbever.2023.InternetTomorrowMust

Embrace digital sobriety

We must embrace some digital sobriety.

Everything has a cost.

• Every picture we upload
• Every conversation we archive
• Every app we download
• Every movie we stream

It is not to say we must not do it
but
we must be mindful when doing it,
and do it only when actually useful.

That does not have to imply worse UX!

• Software bloat can be huge
• Applications can be redesigned without assuming permanent high-speed connectivity.

Summary

1. The Internet peak traffic increases. That is driving network growth, which results in emptier networks on average.
2. Networking hardware is far from power proportionality; It is very inefficient at low utilization.
   → It can and must be improved.
3. Even if direct cost of traffic is minuscule, sending more traffic has an important systemic cost. Cf. Point 1.
   → Don't send if you don't need to.
   → Stay away from the peak!