How Big Is the Internet?

The internet is the sharing of information over connections between multitudinous computers and servers around the planet physically enabled by wires, cables, satellite data, wireless radio (WiFi) and a bunch of other stuff. In this sense, it is ethereal and esoteric in nature, whilst physically made up of the electrons comprising the digital signals that define the data it shares.

But how big is it, mate? You know what I mean? Is it like a pea or like the size of a massive carpark or something? How big's the internet?

VICE: How big is the internet?
Jana, 17, Sydney (right): Well, apparently we only have access to like, 3 percent of the internet or something, So it’s sort of infinite really.

Infinite? Could you possibly give a finite size? In physical terms.
I’m pretty sure infinite's the size.

Mum?
Lindsey, 50, Syndey (left): How big is the internet? Well it can’t really have a size, it’s the network of it, it’s everything, and everybody. It’s bringing people together much more as well. Everyone.

It’s everyone in the world then?
Yes, the internet's size is the size of everyone. I know that’s not what you asked, sorry.

No, no, it really kind of is.

Gareth, 28, Portsmouth: Absolutely massive.

If you could measure it?
Global. Global size.

You got anything more inventive?
Global.

Hannah, 25, London: Well I think it’s – well obviously it’s massive, it’s completely taken off. But I do think it’s making the world seem a lot smaller.

Oh yeah? You better keep that opinion to yourself, it might shock a lot of people. So, is it smaller than the world and equal to…?
I’d say New York and London put together

That’s pretty big.

How big is the internet?
Bod, 39, London (left): It’s about as big as the planet.

Can you give me a more interesting measure?
I’d say it was about as big as 1000 Mighty Mices [sic]. Mighty Mice is big – so I’d say about a thousand of him.

And what about you Scott?
Scott, 38, London (right): It’s a little bit bigger than what he said.

OK, smart arse, what do you think?
I don’t really know what Mighty Mice is anyway.

No, nor do I actually.
Bod: OK… it’s however many coke bottles there are in existence.

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