The Android operating system tracks network activity for various applications and system processes. Clearing these statistics provides a method to monitor data consumption more accurately from a specific point forward, rather than relying on cumulative data from previous periods. This action doesn’t actually reduce past data consumption, but instead resets the tracked figures to zero.
Regularly resetting the tracked data usage can be beneficial for users on limited data plans, allowing them to better understand which applications are consuming the most data within a billing cycle. Historically, monitoring data usage has become increasingly important as mobile data has become more prevalent and vital for various online activities. The ability to reset these counters provides a degree of control and insight for the user.