Internet traffic facts for kids

Internet traffic is the huge amount of data that moves around the Internet every second. Think of it like cars on a highway, but instead of cars, it's all the videos you watch, messages you send, and websites you visit. We measure this traffic by how much data is sent, usually in bytes, or how fast it travels.

It's hard to measure all Internet traffic from one spot because the Internet is not set up in a single, simple way. However, we can get an idea of how much data is moving by looking at major connection points where large Internet companies exchange traffic.

As of late 2022, nearly half (48%) of all Internet traffic came from India and China. Meanwhile, North America and Europe together made up about a quarter of the world's Internet traffic.

What Creates Internet Traffic?

Many different things create Internet traffic. For example, sharing files with others is one part of it. A popular way to share files is using something called the BitTorrent system. This system lets people share files directly with each other, rather than through a central server. In 2013, BitTorrent traffic made up about 7.4% of all Internet traffic, which was less than it used to be.

Today, a huge amount of Internet traffic comes from video sites. In 2023, about 65% of all Internet traffic was from videos, which is a big jump from 51% in 2016.

Also, a lot of traffic comes from automated programs called bots. In 2022, it was estimated that almost half (47%) of all Internet traffic was from these bots.

Managing Internet Traffic

This image shows how different parts of the Internet connect and share traffic.

Managing Internet traffic means making sure data flows smoothly across the network. The Internet doesn't have one central place that controls all traffic. Instead, it grew from earlier networks like the ARPANET, which created a main pathway (called a backbone) for data to travel between big exchange points.

This led to a system where different internet service providers (ISPs) connect to each other. The biggest ISPs, called Tier 1 networks, exchange traffic with each other for free. They also route traffic to smaller ISPs. As the Internet grew, more and more connections were made. This helped create a strong system that can handle problems like broken links or slow connections.

Sometimes, people talk about "economic traffic management." This refers to how practices like "seeding" (where you share files with others after you've downloaded them) help distribute content in the digital world.

Thinking About Internet Taxes

Sometimes, countries consider adding taxes to Internet use. For example, Hungary once planned a tax on Internet data. The idea was to charge a small amount for each gigabyte of data used.

Some people in the government said this tax was fair because more people were using the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. They also said the money was needed to help the country's budget.

However, many people disagreed. They argued that a tax on Internet use could slow down the country's economic development, make it harder for people to get information, and limit their freedom to express themselves online. Many people protested against this idea.

How We Sort Internet Traffic

Traffic classification is about figuring out what kind of data is moving on the Internet. It's like sorting mail into different categories. We can classify traffic in different ways, from very general (like whether it's a big file transfer or a quick message) to very specific (like knowing exactly which app is sending the data).

To do this, we look at different features of the data, such as the port number it uses, the size of the data packets, or how often they are sent. There are many ways to sort Internet traffic, including looking at specific details in the data or using smart computer programs that learn from patterns.

Knowing what kind of traffic is flowing is very important for many Internet activities. It helps with security, making sure important data gets through quickly, and giving Internet providers information to plan for future needs. However, it can be tricky to sort traffic accurately because there isn't always enough information in the data itself to know exactly what it is.

Why Classifying Traffic Matters

Sorting Internet traffic is a key part of systems that detect unusual activity on a network. These systems help find patterns that might mean someone is trying to break in, or they can help make sure important customers get faster service. They also help identify if users are doing something that goes against their Internet service agreement.

Often, methods for classifying Internet traffic involve looking closely at the contents of each data packet as it moves through the network. Data packets that have similar information, like the same source and destination addresses or the same type of connection, are grouped together. The goal is to figure out which application is using that data.

Simple ways to classify traffic assume that most applications use specific, well-known numbers called "port numbers." But many apps now use random port numbers, making it harder to guess what they are. So, more advanced methods look inside the data packets themselves to identify the type of application.

Global Internet Traffic Over Time

Cisco, a big company that makes network systems, has shared information about how much Internet traffic there has been over the years. They gather data from many sources and make estimates.

"Fixed Internet traffic" usually means data from homes and businesses using regular Internet connections. "Mobile Internet traffic" is data from cell phones and other mobile devices. The "overall Internet traffic" numbers are often higher because they include data moving through the main parts of the national Internet network.

Cisco also makes predictions for the future:

Internet Traffic in the United States

The Minnesota Internet Traffic Studies (MINTS) has collected data on how much traffic moves through the main Internet connections in the US:

The Cisco numbers can be much higher than the MINTS numbers. This is because Cisco estimates global Internet traffic, not just in the US. Also, Cisco includes traffic from private networks that use Internet technology but aren't fully part of the public Internet.

Edholm's Law: Bandwidth Growth

In the past, the speed at which data could travel on the Internet (called Internet bandwidth) has roughly doubled every 18 months. This idea is known as Edholm's law. This growth is similar to how computer chip technology has improved over time, following something called Moore's law.

In the 1980s, new technology using fiber-optic cables and laser light made it possible to send information much faster. This helped communication networks reach incredibly high speeds, allowing them to transmit terabits of data per second.

See also

• Internet rush hour
• Web traffic
• Zettabyte Era
• Traffic flow