Having a good internet speed is important, but it is not always necessary. In this article, we are going to talk about what speed you need to use social networks. This can be useful if you are planning to sign up for a new plan for your home or even if you are unsure about the coverage you have on your mobile phone and whether that can affect the use of these types of platforms in your daily life.
We’re talking about platforms like Facebook or Instagram, as well as other similar ones. These are services that you can use to stay in touch with friends and family through messages, but you could also play videos or upload images. In the latter cases, the network speed you have can be key.
Speed to use social networks
In general, you won’t need a very fast Internet speed to use social networks. Unlike watching streaming content in 4K, using the cloud or downloading large files, for example, you don’t need to have a very powerful plan. At least, not for common use.
Typically, 5-10 Mbps speed is sufficient. Even less, for messaging and basic things, would be enough. However, if you are going to watch video content or make a video call on Facebook, you do need a stable connection and it is better to have a speed that is close to 10 Mbps.
This means that, if we think about domestic Internet, any current rate will be more than valid. You don’t need to sign up for a very fast fiber optic rate at all, since you won’t notice any difference. If you see that a social network isn’t working well for you, the problem won’t be with the rate you’ve signed up for, but with some fault that may be in the connection.
Where you might notice certain limitations or problems is when using mobile data. This is because you might be in areas where coverage is very poor and you don’t have 4G. In some cases, you might have problems uploading content to social networks like Instagram or Facebook.
General Internet usage, similar
If we leave aside social networks, for general Internet use the speed will be similar. We are talking about situations such as using email, opening web pages and similar. You do not need a high speed either, since there will be no difference as these are basic uses that do not require anything else.
However, if you are having trouble using social media or simply opening a web page, you should check what could be happening. It may be a coverage limitation, which can happen if you connect too far from the router, or there are interferences or obstacles that prevent the signal from reaching you properly.
It could also be the case that you have a bad configuration, malware on your device or even a hardware problem on the PC or mobile phone you use. In these cases, you should check what may be limiting your Internet connection and the proper use of platforms such as social networks.
