Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
Internet usage in France - Statistics & Facts
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In France, 94 percent of the population uses the internet. And no, not only to search for exquisite restaurants and magnificent French wine – with over 55 million individuals going online regularly, the landscape of online usage in France is complex and dynamic. Despite the relatively high internet user reach, it is slightly lower compared to other European countries, especially Northern and Western markets. As of 2024, over 88 percent of the total population had a broadband home connection, and 84 percent uses the internet daily.
Since the enactment of General data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018, the highest fine for its violation was imposed to Google LLC. In December 2021. The company received a 90 million euro fine for receiving complaints regarding cookie policies on the websites google.fr and youtube.com.
It can be difficult to adapt to ever-transforming technologies, especially for older generations. From simply using a smartphone to protecting themselves from online threats – all this requires a certain level of digital literacy. Some French internet users turn to friends and family for support in online safety, others read about it online. Not everyone has the best practices online, but the internet has long become one of the most important ways of communication nowadays, that is almost impossible to avoid.
Mobile internet usage in France
Nearly 54 million individuals in France are using mobile internet as of 2024. Mobile phones made up 49 percent share of overall web traffic in France, being closely followed by desktops and laptops. Among the variety of mobile features, French internet users preferred navigating the internet and sending instant messages on apps.What is the internet used for?
Approximately nine in ten internet users in France used Google to search for information, and mostly searched for weather forecast. Besides search engines, French users also frequently used websites and apps with video content, such as YouTube and online stores. Online stores were also among the most visited websites in the country. When asked about the reasons for using the internet, French users mentioned finding information, along with contacting friends and family and keeping up to date with news and events.Social media usage in France
In France, over 33 million people used social media. By 2029, this figure is projected to increase to around 45 million. Furthermore, approximately seven in ten individuals were daily users of social media platforms as of December 2023. Among selected platforms, Facebook was the most frequently used platform in the country. The most frequently performed social media activity among French users was sending private messages.Online privacy protection in France
In France, about half of surveyed internet users declined cookies on websites at least some of the time and similar share expressed concerns about the possible misuse of their online data. While a third of them said they used a tool to block advertisements on the internet at least some of the time.Since the enactment of General data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018, the highest fine for its violation was imposed to Google LLC. In December 2021. The company received a 90 million euro fine for receiving complaints regarding cookie policies on the websites google.fr and youtube.com.
It can be difficult to adapt to ever-transforming technologies, especially for older generations. From simply using a smartphone to protecting themselves from online threats – all this requires a certain level of digital literacy. Some French internet users turn to friends and family for support in online safety, others read about it online. Not everyone has the best practices online, but the internet has long become one of the most important ways of communication nowadays, that is almost impossible to avoid.
Ani Petrosyan
,
Sep 10, 2024
Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
