At the airport, everyone thinks of cutting their mobile data. But a detail hidden in the settings can explode the invoice, without you realizing it.
Just before embarking, you checked that your charger is in the suitcase, downloaded a playlist for the flight, activated the plane mode by going up in the device. You think you are quiet. However, a discreet option in your phone sometimes continues to turn into a background. And it does not only consume a little battery: it costs you money, many, sometimes hundreds of euros in a few days.
Travelers often discover it once returned home, by consulting their statement. We are talking about the costs imposed by operators here on each megaoctet consumed outside an international package. And in this equation, social networks play a central role. Because between the wait at the boarding gate, the stops, the queues for a taxi, the glance at the weather or the messages to the family who have remained in France, you draw without thinking about your phone to pass the time. What we do not see, on the other hand, is the amount of data that fly away.
For example, short videos on Tiktok or Instagram can consume up to 20 MB alone in a few minutes. A single ten -minute YouTube video can reach 100 MB. A song listened to on Spotify: 15 MB. You might think that it is the long videos that weigh the most, but even fast scrolls have a cost. Half an hour of Tiktok during a stopover, it’s about 60 MB. Some videos during a coffee at the airport: 200 MB more. Add to that a search on Google, a WhatsApp conversation, a card consulted on Google Maps and you easily exceeded 300 MB during the day. And that is without having left the airport.
However, abroad, without suitable package, the price of the mega can climb very quickly. This is where some discover invoices of 150 euros, 200 euros, or even 300 euros after only three days of vacation. And all that for having used their phone as at home. For Georgia Bridida, a telecom specialist at SIM Local, this unpleasant surprise could be avoided if travelers were careful with an often ignored option. We are talking about the functionality Automatic reading of videos.
For iPhone users, open the “Settings” application, press “Accessibility”, select “Movement”, deactivate “Automatic playback video”. On Android, open the “Settings” application, scroll down and select “Google”, press “All services”, choose “Search, assistant and voice”, select “Other settings”, press “Automatic playback video” and select “Never”. A manipulation to know to avoid unpleasant surprises. For even more tranquility, simply limit access to data abroad, and connect only to local wifi.
