The cost of uploading a video to social media explained: the inefficiency of current video compression algorithms

The use of social media has experienced exponential growth in the last  decade, as these platforms are not only used for personal purposes but also in many  areas, such as entertainment, education, business, and work. Among the features they  offer, the possibility of sharing content such as pictures and videos has become very  attractive. This article shows the economic and environmental cost of uploading a video  to some of the most popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram,  YouTube, and TikTok. To do this, we explain what happens every time a user uploads a  video. The evaluation points out the processes involved and identifies the most polluting  ones. The findings reveal that video compression algorithms are among the key elements  that need to be optimized to increase energy efficiency in the design of these widely used applications.