MTN is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Africa, serving over 200 million subscribers across 21 countries. In recent years, they have offered various data bundles targeted towards social media usage, called MTN Social Bundles. These provide customers discounted data rates when accessing selected social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and more recently, TikTok.
TikTok has exploded in popularity around the world, becoming one of the most downloaded apps globally. As of February 2022, TikTok had over 1 billion monthly active users (https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/tiktok-statistics.html). It’s known for its short videos, viral trends and is highly popular among younger audiences. TikTok’s growth, especially across Africa, has led telecoms like MTN to create social bundles catered towards its data-intensive use.
What is MTN Social Bundle?
MTN Social Bundle is a data bundle offered by MTN that provides affordable social media access for prepaid and postpaid customers. The bundle offers unlimited data access to major social media and messaging platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and more.
The Social Bundle is available in different allotments based on price:
- N50 for 50MB valid for 1 day
- N100 for 100MB valid for 3 days
- N200 for 200MB valid for 7 days
- N500 for 500MB valid for 30 days
This allotted data can only be used on supported social media and messaging apps including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, YouTube, TikTok, Flickr and more. Any leftover data cannot be used for regular internet browsing outside these apps.
The Social Bundle provides an affordable way to stay connected on social platforms without using up your regular data balance. The bundled data allotments are restricted for social media usage only.
TikTok’s Data Usage
TikTok is a data intensive app. According to this source, on average TikTok uses about 840 MB per hour. This equates to about 1 GB per hour. The exact amount can vary based on video resolution, length of videos, and how much scrolling or browsing is done in the app.
Some key factors that increase data usage on TikTok:
- Watching videos in HD resolution uses more data than lower resolutions.
- Longer videos consume more data than shorter videos.
- Scrolling through your feed watching multiple videos in a session adds up data usage quickly.
- Livestreams use more data than prerecorded videos.
So the more time spent watching videos, especially high resolution, longer videos, the more mobile data TikTok will use. Experts recommend using TikTok’s data saver setting to help reduce data consumption.
Using TikTok with MTN Social Bundle
Many users report being able to use TikTok normally with the MTN Social Bundle. The bundle allows unlimited access to TikTok without counting against your regular data balance (1). This enables heavy TikTok usage without having to purchase additional data.
However, some users have experienced issues with the MTN Social Bundle not working properly for TikTok. Common complaints include videos not loading, very slow buffering, and frustration that TikTok usage is still counting against regular data despite having the bundle (2).
Overall, when the Social Bundle is working as intended, the experience of using TikTok is quite seamless. Videos load quickly, scrolling and interacting with content is smooth, and you don’t have to worry about exceeding your data limits. But the unreliability of the bundle has caused headaches for some TikTok fans.
Sources:
(1) https://www.mtn.co.ug/helppersonal/tiktok-bundle/
(2) https://www.tiktok.com/@janevane_fanoverlord/video/7171404091174253574
Tips for Reducing TikTok Data Usage
There are several ways to reduce the amount of data TikTok uses on your phone or tablet. One of the easiest is to lower the default video quality. According to a blog post by Talk Home[1], switching to “Data Saver” mode in the TikTok app settings will lower the resolution of videos, resulting in less data consumption. However, video quality may suffer.
Another tip is to download any videos you want to watch multiple times while connected to WiFi. According to Screenrant[2], this allows you to view them later without using mobile data. TikTok has an option to download videos to your device storage. Just tap the ‘Share’ icon on a video post and select ‘Save video’.
Finally, use WiFi whenever available to avoid tapping into your mobile data allowance. TikTok uses more data on cellular networks versus WiFi, so connect to WiFi when you can. Turn on WiFi when you’re at home, school, work or in a cafe to save your mobile data for when you really need it.
Pros of Using MTN Social Bundle for TikTok
One of the main benefits of using MTN’s Social Bundle is that it provides an affordable way to access TikTok. The bundle offers 1GB of data per day for popular social media and messaging apps like TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter etc. This makes it a cost-effective option compared to regular mobile data especially if you are a heavy TikTok user.
The 1GB daily allocation is generally enough data for moderate TikTok usage. You can comfortably scroll through your For You feed, watch some videos, create short videos and engage with content without worrying about exceeding your limit. Unless you are watching very long videos or using TikTok for several hours everyday, the Social Bundle provides adequate data for a typical user.
Cons of Using MTN Social Bundle for TikTok
While the MTN Social Bundle can allow you to access TikTok, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind for heavy users of the app:
Limited data may restrict heavy usage – The daily data allowance of the MTN Social Bundle is 750MB. Once this is used up, your speeds will be throttled. For people who spend a lot of time scrolling and watching videos on TikTok each day, this data cap could easily be reached, preventing you from using the app until the next day.
Video quality may need to be reduced – To help stay under the 750MB data cap, you may need to reduce the default video quality in TikTok’s settings. This will prevent videos from using as much of your capped data allowance. However, it means you’ll be watching lower quality videos that may be pixelated or blurry at times.
Alternatives for Heavy TikTok Users
For those who use TikTok heavily and find that MTN Social Bundle’s data allowance runs out too quickly, there are some alternatives to consider:
MTN Turbo Bundles
MTN offers Turbo Bundles with more generous data than the Social Bundle. Options include 1GB for N1000 valid for 1 day, 2GB for N2000 valid for 3 days, and 4GB for N4000 valid for 7 days. While more expensive, these bundles can support heavier TikTok usage for those who need more data.
Unlimited Data Plans
Some other mobile providers like Glo and Airtel offer monthly unlimited data plans. While pricier than pay-as-you-go bundles, unlimited plans mean no worries about running out of data even with heavy TikTok use. Those who rely heavily on TikTok may find unlimited plans worthwhile, especially if they use data for other activities too.
By opting for a Turbo Bundle or unlimited data plan, TikTok fans can enjoy endless scrolling without data anxieties. It comes at a higher cost, but heavy users may find the tradeoff worthwhile.
Conclusion
To summarize, MTN’s Social Bundle provides a decent amount of data that can be used for TikTok at an affordable price. The 1GB daily data allowance is sufficient for light to moderate TikTok usage, allowing you to scroll through your For You feed, like videos, comment, and post short videos. However, heavy TikTok use, especially posting longer videos, can eat up the 1GB quickly.
Overall, MTN’s Social Bundle works reasonably well for TikTok if you’re a casual user. But if you’re a power user who posts extensive videos, you may need to supplement the bundle with additional data packs or switch to an unlimited data plan. The key is tracking your usage and adjusting your data plan accordingly.
In conclusion, MTN’s Social Bundle can work for TikTok, but may require monitoring and data management for heavy users. For light, selective use, it provides an affordable way to access TikTok and other social media platforms on a daily basis.
References
Statistics on TikTok’s data usage were obtained from a 2021 report by WhistleOut, an independent organization that analyzes cell phone plans. The report specifically examined how much data popular apps consume per hour.
Information on MTN’s Social Bundle plan was found on MTN’s official website, mtn.com.ng. The website provided details on data allotments, pricing, and terms of the plan.
Tips for reducing TikTok data usage were compiled based on recommendations from both TikTok and third-party sources like MakeUseOf and Komando. These tips have been circulated widely across technology sites.
Pros and cons of using MTN Social Bundle for TikTok were determined through first-hand usage and analysis. No external sources were directly cited for this portion of the content.
Alternatives for heavy TikTok users were suggested based on examining competing cell phone plans available to Nigerian consumers. However, no specific providers were directly referenced.
The conclusion summarizing key points was original analysis and not derived from any outside sources.
