Internet usage in France - Statistics & Facts
Mobile internet usage in France
Mobile’s share of overall web traffic in France was at about 53 percent as of June 2023. Additionally, over 54 million individuals in France were using mobile internet, with smartphones being the most popular device used to go online by French population. Navigating the internet topped the list of the most used mobile features in the French market, followed by the messaging apps.Activities of French online users
Nine in ten internet users in France used Google. Furthermore, the search for weather information was leading. Besides search engines, French users also frequently used websites and apps with video content, such as YouTube. 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.French social media usage
In France, over 50 million people were social media users. By 2028, this number is projected to increase to around 57 million. Social networks like Facebook were the most frequently used platforms in France. A 2023 survey found that seven in ten individuals were daily users of social media platforms. The most frequently performed social media activity among French users was sending private messages.Online privacy protection in France
With cyber crime becoming a major issue worldwide, online users become more conscious and aware of the protection of their personal data online. In France, consumers express concerns about the possible misuse of their online data. Furthermore, half of the online adults declined cookies on websites at least some of the time, while a third of them said they preferred to remain anonymous when using online services. In the contrary, over a quarter of adult internet users were comfortable with mobile apps tracking their real-world activity, such as sleep and steps.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. Overall, the level of GDPR awareness among French internet users had increased from 20 to 47 percent between 2018 and 2022.