Internet Traffic Dipped as Viewers Took in the Eclipse

As the moon blocked the view of the sun across parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada on Monday, the celestial event managed another magnificent feat: It got people offline. From a report: According to Cloudflare, a cloud-computing service used by about 20 percent of websites globally, internet traffic dipped along the path of totality as spellbound viewers took a break from their phones and computers to catch a glimpse of the real-life spectacle.

The places with the most dramatic views saw the biggest dips in traffic compared with the previous week. In Vermont, Arkansas, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire and Ohio -- states that were in the path of totality, meaning the moon completely blocked out the sun -- internet traffic dropped by 40 percent to 60 percent around the time of the eclipse, Cloudflare said. States that had partial views also saw drops in internet activity, but to a much lesser extent. At 3:25 p.m. Eastern time, internet traffic in New York dropped by 29 percent compared with the previous week, Cloudflare found.

The path of totality made up a roughly 110-mile-wide belt that stretched from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Montreal. In the Mexican state of Durango, which was in the eclipse zone, internet traffic measured by Cloudflare dipped 57 percent compared with the previous week, while farther south, in Mexico City, traffic was down 22 percent. The duration of the eclipse's totality varied by location, with some places experiencing it for more than four minutes while for others, it was just one to two minutes.

Interesting; just the opposite here

[Flexagon]

I wasn't in the path of totality, and overcast skies prevented any hope of a partiality view. So what'd I do? I streamed from services that were showing the eclipse live. exploratorium.edu [exploratorium.edu]'s Texas viewing site was also overcast at the big moment, but other services worked.

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[e3m4n]

It was overcast where I was, even though I was in the 95% band of totality. at 2pm EST the moon began crossing the sun's path. Up until 2:20 the sun was bright enough to pierce the clouds and use the solar glasses. By 2:20 the moon was covering more than half the sun which was enough light restriction you could only see it as it peeked between the clouds. Around 2:45 to 3pm, as it was at the peak, glasses were no longer required. You could not see through the clouds but occasionally enough cloud would part

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[omnichad]

The reason they gave sounded badly phrased. I don't think bus drivers should be out or kids walking near the time of totality. It's not about the darkness itself. And really, early dismissal would solve most of it. But depending on the timing, a lot of state/federal funding isn't available for partial days if they're cut too short. Or if a lot of students won't be in attendance.

It's really two things.

1) Being near the road walking or driving when people are paying attention to something else is dangero

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[evil_aaronm]

I swear ever since social media evolved post 2010, everyone has gotten fucking stupid

Nah, people have always been stupid. But their reach was historically limited to friends and family; maybe the neighborhood; so-and-so would tell you about it at the corner bar, or in the grocery store. A particularly bad case of stupid might end up on the local news. Now, everyone can see all the stupid all the time. There's not more; it's just more widely broadcast.

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[93 Escort Wagon]

It was cloudy here, although I probably wouldn't have made much effort to see it anyway. It was only going to be 20% coverage here in Washington, and it's only been 7 years since we got to see 90% coverage (which we fortunately had perfect weather for). Plus I'm old enough to remember the 1979 eclipse, when we had totality - we made a special trip to Eastern Washington to see that one.

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[evil_aaronm]

It was cloudy, here, as well, nicely in the path of 90+%, but I didn't particularly care. I figured if someone got a cool shot of it, the Internet would have it up in little to no time, so I didn't need to see it, personally. However, as I worked in my office, I did notice and appreciate how dark it got and quickly, and then light again. That was pretty cool.

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[jbengt]

I figured if someone got a cool shot of it, the Internet would have it up in little to no time, so I didn't need to see it, personally.

There's a big difference between 90% and totality. I traveled from where I live, which was 94%, to my daughter's house, which had 3 min 45 sec of totality. It was totally worth it, not the same as a picture on the web.

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[93 Escort Wagon]

There's a big difference between 90% and totality.

Having experienced both at different times... I agree. Visually a total eclipse is like nothing else. However 90+% is still darn cool and definitely still worth seeing... plus some things are pretty similar between the two. Like, for instance, how much colder that drop in incident solar radiation immediately makes you feel - even though the actual air temp doesn't change a significant amount.

Afterwards, traffic spiked

[GlennC]

A specific Google search was very prevalent after totality. It was "why do my eyes hurt?"

https://9to5google.com/2024/04/08/google-search-solar-eclipse-my-eyes-hurt/ [9to5google.com]

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[Tony Isaac]

Also, people sending their photos and videos to everybody everywhere.

Some things you just have to experience

[Tony Isaac]

The internet is great, but there's nothing quite like experiencing the eclipse in person, with others.

In Dallas where I went, there were people all over the hotel lawn, like a big picnic. Everybody was swapping stories, finding out where others were from. Some people I met were from Canada, UK, California, Florida, and several other states. When that last ray of sunlight disappeared, it was like a light switch had turned off, it was that sudden and that dramatic. Everybody was clapping and cheering, in part

NW Ohio Totality

[RitchCraft]

My house was in the direct path of totality (3 minutes 36 seconds) and luckily had clear blue skies. The Internet seems so less amazing now that I have viewed a total eclipse for the first time. Even though it's been a while since it happened I'm still in awe. If you've never seen a total eclipse book a flight now for the next one and get off the Internet for a while. Pictures and videos do not do the real viewing any justice at all. I completely understand now how the ancients thought there were gods in the sky.

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[doesnothingwell]

I had a slightly fuzzy totality, but it was more exciting than a partial. Strangely weird, when watching the sunset some hours later, it made the whole sky seems smaller.

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[RitchCraft]

I was not prepared for how large the eclipse was. In pictures and video it always looks so small. I literally gasped after taking the glasses off and seeing the totality with my naked eye for the first time. I don't know if I'll be around for the 2045 eclipse across the US so I'm seriously considering a trip to anywhere a more recent one is occurring. I want to see that again. I'm kicking myself for not traveling a few states down to see the 2017 eclipse. If only I had known.