jrs1871
please clarify what you are saying
laptop using phone for wifi, is faster than doing internet on the phone directly ?
while reading news articles ?
phone data does NOT go up because internet slows down
internet does seem to go slower when using more data
if data use has gone up ? then something is using that data !
i suggest saving/backing up all pictures, apps, text msg. etc..
and doing a factory reset, something is slowing down the phones operating system and your browser app
also change the wifi access password on your phone hotspot feature