Listening to music videos on YouTube. Digital consumption practices and the environmental impact of streaming

YouTube is currently the most widely used platform for music streaming. Users listen to videos rather than watch them. This environmentally suboptimal since video data require more energy audio be hosted and transmitted. Why are consumers using a stream music? In this paper, we sketch framework analyzing digital practices as consumption their transformation in context of ecological transition. We interviewed 29 online from varied backgrounds. Drawing on practice theory, conceptualize use combination sociotechnical configurations articulating listening devices, types attention music, social contexts daily life. analyze how different platforms, especially YouTube, embedded specific configurations. first establish that which actually watched rare. Though users aware carbon footprint streaming, representation does not inform describe three according role plays in, correlate with passion: can framed free open (especially casual listeners), an efficient soundtracking device many contexts, useful complementary sharing device. The paper extends literature green consumption, relations infrastructures regime abundance, contributes sociology showing choices linked passion contexts.