Observational study reveals digital consumption contributes to carbon emissions in highschoolers, suggesting a need for awareness.
Digital consumption refers to the aggregate of entertainment and information media consumed by an individual. It is the way individuals access, engage with, and utilize digital media and technologies in their daily lives.1 It includes a wide range of activities such as streaming content, social media interactions, online shopping, information consumption and app usage. In today’s world, digital consumption is an essential part of an individual’s existence. We exist in an interconnected and highly digital world. Digital consumption contributes to rising energy demand through energy consumption at data centres and device usage by billions of users. These activities further drive carbon emissions and e-waste. All online activities, whether it is sending e-mails, attending video calls, playing games or engaging in online shopping have a carbon footprint, about which many people are unaware. Our digital consumption habits have a large contribution in climate change and resource depletion.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Manpreet Kaur Bhatia (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: