The Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique Marsouin (GIS Marsoin), at the origin of the CapuniCrise survey, carried out during the first confinement, is continuing to exploit the data collected.

Fabien Collas, Géraldine Guérillot, Sandra Trébaol, Soazig Lalancette take stock in this note of the effect of confinement on the behavior of Internet users, with a focus on the question of over-connection and disconnection. How did Internet users react?

Supported by the Region of Brittany and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, "CAPUNI Crisis" specifically surveyed 1,500 Bretons and 1,000 nationals. The results of the Breton survey are analyzed and published separately.

Internet users more connected to their emails and social networks to better live the confinement?

More than a third (34%) of Internet users said they were constantly connected to their email. A trend that is, not surprisingly, stronger among teleworkers.

The trend seems similar when it comes to the use of social networks. Indeed, 81% of Internet users are present on social networks, which represents an increase of 15 points compared to 2019. There too, an increase in the frequency of connection is to be noted, since 56% have a daily use, against 17% in 2019.

Note that more than a quarter (28%) of Internet users are permanently connected to different social networks and that the individuals most concerned by a permanent connection to social networks are the youngest (18 to 29 years old).

Fabien Collas, Géraldine Guérillot, Sandra Trébaol, Soazig Lalancette observe an intensification of connection frequencies on several common uses since 2019 among French Internet users.

Feeling more connected during confinement

Connected from morning to night? A necessity?

Of those who had to check email, 20% did so within 10 minutes of waking up. Although it is difficult to assess an effect of confinement, telecommuting or taking care of a child's schoolwork at home are among the factors that encourage these e-mail habits. It is likely that telecommuting, for example, may have reduced the time between waking up and starting the workday and, therefore, checking email.

These short connection times when waking up may also reflect a form of addiction to these different uses. Some Internet users have favored digital technology to the detriment of other activities, or even their sleep during confinement. This is in any case what the CAPUNI crisis survey reveals: 16% of Internet users said they often lost sleep time to spend time online (this was already revealed in the CAPUNI 2019 survey), and it is the youngest Internet users (18 to 29 years old) who are most concerned. 12% of Internet users often favored an online activity over a daily one. Again, this habit is more important among the youngest but also among teleworkers.

Thus, as the results of the survey show, the use of emails and social networks intensified during the lockdown. It appears that the youngest Internet users were the biggest consumers of these uses during this period. Did the confinement lead to the emergence or reinforcement of certain addictive behaviors with regard to digital uses?

However, despite the increasing importance of digital technology in their daily lives, a third of French Internet users have taken time out of their daily lives at least once a day.

• The CAPUNI Crisis Survey
• The CAPUNI Crisis survey was conducted on behalf of the Marsouin Scientific Interest Group. Supported by the Brittany Region and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, "CAPUNI Crisis" surveyed a representative sample of the national population (2,317 individuals) by telephone. Representativeness is ensured by the quota method on the basis of age, gender, socio-professional category, size of urban unit of residence and department.
• The survey focused on digital equipment and usage before and during confinement, as well as homeschooling and telecommuting.
• The uses of the very small samples were interpreted in light of previous surveys or qualitative work by Marsouin researchers.

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