Online video usage in France - statistics & facts
The internet revolutionized video viewing habits in France. The French market was characterized by the steep preference for French-language-specific video platforms and TV channels such as Canal Plus and Orange Cinéma Séries. With the dawn of streaming giants, the French audience adapted to global consumption patterns. As of the first quarter of 2024, Netflix was the most popular subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform in France, followed by Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.
Overall, almost nine in 10 French internet users engaged with video online: the most popular video content type for internet users in France were music videos and tutorials. Online livestreaming was also among the most popular video genres: YouTube Live was the most used livestreaming site, with over 60 percent viewer reach; Facebook Like and gaming-specific platform Twitch ranked second, recording usage of 40 percent among all live stream viewers in France in 2023.
Young French audiences are not immune from the short-video frenzy swiping the global market: in 2023, TikTok users in France were over 17 million. Approximately 30 percent of TikTok viewers were women aged between 18 and 24 years, while men in the same age group accounted for almost 11.2 percent of the platform's audience.
From their side, parents reported noticing an array of problematic behaviors that they attributed to the use of screens in the household: according to half of the surveyed parents, screen use led to behavior problems such as anger and irritability, while 36 percent reported thinking attention problems were part of the negative behavioral patterns relating to screen usage. A survey of midwives and childcare providers highlighted how over half of the respondents consider the existence of a link between the prolonged use of screens and developmental difficulties in children at least on some occasions.
As watching online video is one of the most common activities for users in France, OTT films and series, live streaming, as well as other forms of audio-visual content such as short-social video have come to define internet usage in France. However, educators and public personalities have been advocating to better control and limit exposition, especially among the most vulnerable users such as children and teenagers.
French users video engagement
Between 2022 and 2023, the time spent by French consumers watching analog TV and online video increased by over 30 percent, going from three hours and a half to over four hours and a half.Overall, almost nine in 10 French internet users engaged with video online: the most popular video content type for internet users in France were music videos and tutorials. Online livestreaming was also among the most popular video genres: YouTube Live was the most used livestreaming site, with over 60 percent viewer reach; Facebook Like and gaming-specific platform Twitch ranked second, recording usage of 40 percent among all live stream viewers in France in 2023.
Young French audiences are not immune from the short-video frenzy swiping the global market: in 2023, TikTok users in France were over 17 million. Approximately 30 percent of TikTok viewers were women aged between 18 and 24 years, while men in the same age group accounted for almost 11.2 percent of the platform's audience.
Kids and video: impact of the internet
New video formats, especially mobile video on tablets and smartphones, have increased accessibility among kids. In 2023, 70 percent of children reported engaging with YouTube, while 42 percent reported watching Netflix. Livestreaming platform Twitch ranked as the third most used video app among children in France.From their side, parents reported noticing an array of problematic behaviors that they attributed to the use of screens in the household: according to half of the surveyed parents, screen use led to behavior problems such as anger and irritability, while 36 percent reported thinking attention problems were part of the negative behavioral patterns relating to screen usage. A survey of midwives and childcare providers highlighted how over half of the respondents consider the existence of a link between the prolonged use of screens and developmental difficulties in children at least on some occasions.
As watching online video is one of the most common activities for users in France, OTT films and series, live streaming, as well as other forms of audio-visual content such as short-social video have come to define internet usage in France. However, educators and public personalities have been advocating to better control and limit exposition, especially among the most vulnerable users such as children and teenagers.
