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Digital Barometer 2023: the main results

New technologies anchored in French daily lifeAccording to this latest edition of the Digital Barometer, conducted by Arcep, Arcom, CGE and ANCT, digital equipment and uses are now part of people's daily lives.Nine out of ten people are Internet users, and 82% of the population aged 12 and over living in mainland France connect to the Internet every day. The Internet has also become an integral part of French life: 64% of people aged 70 and over are now Internet users. Home Internet connections via fiber optics are continuing the boom begun five years ago, with an 11-point increase in one year. By 2023, 67% of people with fixed home Internet access will be connected by fiber or cable. When a household has not taken out a fiber subscription, the lack of a network connection is the most frequently cited reason (39%), followed by a lack of interest (26%).The appeal of a fast connection is not confined to the home, and also concerns nomadic connections. 78% of French people are equipped with a smartphone capable of accessing the 4G network, and 31% the 5G network. In this respect, age is a decisive factor: 41% of 18-24 year-olds and 42% of 25-39 year-olds are equipped with a smartphone capable of accessing 5G, but only 22% of 60-69 year-olds and 16% of those aged 70 and over. Today, the smartphone is the most frequently used device for connecting to the Internet (48% of French people) in 2023.Another sign of the population's infatuation with digital technology is the gradual penetration of connected speakers into the home. Nearly three out of ten French people are now equipped with a connected loudspeaker, representing a strong increase since 2019 (+20 points).The French are also showing a certain level of interest in the deployment of recent innovations. Seven out of ten French people have already heard of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, Midjourney or Dall-E: 38% know what these tools are, and 20% have already tried them out. For the time being, this experimentation has taken place more in a private context (16%) than in a professional or educational context (12%). Certain target groups are quick to adopt these tools. 43% of 18-24 year-olds have used them in their private lives, and 31% of managers and professionals in their professional lives. Professional and educational uses are also undergoing new mutations. 28% of working people and students use a collaborative office platform or suite, 10% artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality or blockchain systems, and 9% a chat bot.Collaborative platforms or office suites are cited more often by 18-24 year-olds (43%), 25-39 year-olds (36%), university graduates (42%), people living in the Paris area (36%), those in work or studying, and high-income earners (37%). Editorial media continue their digital transitionMore than two-thirds of French people (68%) now have a TV set connected to the Internet, a rate that falls sharply among the elderly (44% among the over-70s) and the uneducated (37%). Just under half of those concerned (30% of French people) use just one mode of connection - mostly the box of an Internet service provider - while 38% report several modes of connection. The latter are characterized by a more male profile, higher education graduates, CSP+ and residents of large conurbations. Multi-connected profiles show more sustained and diversified usage: more of them use subscription video-on-demand services as well as TV channel applications or services such as YouTube, in addition to watching live TV. As a result, they report greater ease of access to channels and services on their connected TV set (for 90% of them, compared with 85% on average), while certain categories of the population, such as people with a single connection mode and retirees, show less ease of navigation. When it comes to audio content, the terrestrial network still predominates. Among the 75% of the French population who consume audio content (podcasts or music, live or on-demand, with or without subscription), a majority (58%) are still primarily loyal to their radio/radio. However, Internet listening is now widespread, with 42% of listeners reporting that they listen to audio content via the Internet, whether most often via the Internet (26%) or as often via terrestrial or IP (16%). With regard more specifically to DAB+ digital terrestrial radio, which is still being rolled out in France, a third (33%) of audio content consumers have already heard of this reception mode (including 13% who say they can describe exactly what it is), i.e. 28% of the French population. Awareness of this new technology - as well as the rate of equipment - is notably higher among technophile audiences (men, young people, people living in the Paris region, CSP+). Health, community involvement, information... eight out of ten people consider the Internet to be important for their integration into society.French interest in the use of digital technologies for healthcare purposes continues, even after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, 49% of the Internet-using population sought information about their health or that of a loved one on the Internet. This level is close to that observed before the pandemic (50% in 2018), and other uses have progressed.Controlling one's health via the internet and digital technologies is thus far more common than before the pandemic: 24%, +16 points compared to 2018. A third of the population would be ready to take this step in the future.The transmission of health information to one's doctor is also becoming more widespread: 32% of French people did so in 2023, compared with just 9% in 2018. In five years, reluctance on the subject has faded. Only 18% of the population do not consider themselves ready to transmit health information to their doctor via the Internet, compared with 42% in 2018. Another sign of the use of digital technologies in healthcare is that 38% of the population already manage their own or their children's health online. 25% do not yet do so, but would be prepared to do so in the future. However, the over-sixties are more reserved about using digital technology for health matters. In the associative sphere, digital tools also occupy an important place. 55% of those surveyed believe that the Internet is a good tool for contributing to associative life. And, in fact, 68% of association members use digital tools for this purpose. The Internet is also massively used to obtain information from the print media: 71% of people have read articles in the digital press in the last twelve months. As with reading the press in paper format, this practice is also differentiated by level of qualification. 46% of graduates have read press articles in digital format in the last twelve months, compared to 83% of university graduates. While 65% of the population say they consult online articles available free of charge, 31% of the population pay for a subscription to one or more press titles, buy articles or issues, or have a subscription to a newsstand such as Cafeyn or ePress.In many cases (40%), readers of the digital version are also buyers of the paper version. Moreover, 44% of digital press readers say that price is the main factor motivating their choice of a digital rather than a paper offer. 63% of respondents see digital technology as a tool that makes their daily lives easier. 22% consider that this technology has no impact on their daily lives, and finally only 13% think that digital technology complicates their daily lives.All in all, the spread of the internet and, more generally, of digital technology in all aspects of French life makes it an essential space for social integration. 78% of French people believe it is important to have access to the internet to feel integrated into society (+13 points compared to 2016 and +24 points compared to 2009). A more participative Internet: one French person in two has given an opinion, an assessment or a comment, a figure that has doubled in eight years.The advent of the so-called "2.0" web, fueled by the participation of everyone, is obvious. The use of social networks is particularly widespread: 78% of the population visit them, even if only rarely, and 38% of French people even log on several times a day. Social networks continue to infiltrate all aspects of daily life, whether for leisure, communication, information or work. 54% of French people use them to share photos or videos with loved ones (versus 31% in 2012). 36% even use them to share opinions, photos and videos in a public way, making tangible the web's long-heralded role as a renewed public square.In the eight years since the last measurement, social networks have become a form of interface in a variety of fields, with digital entertainment at the top of the list. 63% say they use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok and others for entertainment. Today, they also play a major role in the circulation of information: more than one French person in two obtains information through them. They remain a preferred means of keeping in touch with friends and family (63% of the population). The 25-39 age group are the most frequent users of online networks. Another sign of this participative Internet is that half the population (50%) has given a rating, an evaluation or left a comment on the Internet about a product they've bought or a service they've used. This is twice as many as in 2015, when only a quarter (26%) of the population were involved. The 18-59 age group is particularly active in this area. At the same time, 60% consulted reviews on the internet, +11 points compared to 2015.A feeling of lack of control is still the main barrier to digital useWhile 55% of French people believe they face no particular obstacles when using digital tools in their daily lives (+3 points on 2022), a number of obstacles remain, notably the feeling of not having mastered the technology, which still concerns a quarter of the total population (25%; +7 points on 2020), poor equipment (13%) or even non-equipment (10%), or connection difficulties (9%).When they do face difficulties, the French stop or abandon their use of digital tools less often than before: 5% in 2023 versus 8% in 2018. What's more, French people in difficulty tend to seek help from those close to them. Indeed, 26% seek help from friends and family in the event of digital difficulties, and 28% believe that turning to their circle of friends and family is the best way to improve their digital skills. What's more, since the Covid-19 health crisis, the French have developed a certain autonomy with regard to digital technology. In the event of difficulties, 39% of the population seek to manage on their own, and 27% believe that self-training on the Internet would enable them to improve their digital skills. It should be noted, however, that this trend is primarily driven by people who are already comfortable with digital technology and education, such as university graduates. Encountering difficulties remains a factor limiting digital use. Half of the population (50%) limit their use of digital technology. While the price of equipment and subscriptions is the main obstacle cited by 22% of French people, it is directly followed by a feeling of lack of control (18%). In addition, 13% of the French population mention their disinterest and 11% their rejection of digital technology. It's interesting to link these last two results to the fact that over a third of French people say that digital technology has no effect or complicates their daily lives (35%). Cyber-malware hinders the digitization of society However, the increasing "digitization" of society is not entirely without its problems. The rise of digital uses also goes hand in hand with an increase in exposure to online scams, insults and harassment. 12% of French people have been victims of cyber-violence in the last twelve months, such as online insults, harassment or defamation, and 21% have been victims of online scams or fraud. Because they are more present on the web, or because they are particularly sensitive to any form of abuse (Berhuet et al, 2023), young people declare that they are much more often the target of such malice: 39% of 18-24 year-olds and 21% of 25-39 year-olds have been the victim at least once of insults, harassment or defamation online. Similarly, 41% of 18-24 year-olds and 26% of 25-39 year-olds say they have been the victim of online scams or fraud. On the subject of working life, 36% of employed people believe that digital tools are used by their employer to monitor them. Once again, young people are the most suspicious in this respect. Despite the rise in these risks, only 39% of French people are aware of a reporting system set up by the public authorities to report illicit content (such as Pharos, for example). More specifically, on social networks and video-sharing platforms, more than 4 out of 10 users (43%) say they have already used a tool to report inappropriate accounts or content. These tools are particularly popular with young adults (84% of 18-24 year-olds).More broadly speaking, there are still educational issues to be addressed when it comes to understanding the rules applicable on social networks and video-sharing platforms: 47% of users have already consulted their general terms and conditions (GTC) at least once, and of these, almost half (47%) consider them to be "easily understandable", with a fairly marked age effect (56% understanding among 18-24 year-olds who have consulted the GTC, versus 37% among 60-69 year-olds).A still vague environmental awarenessOn a completely different note, digital environmental awareness is still in its infancy among the general public, and the most effective uses are not yet the best identified.For people with Internet access at home, sorting and cleaning their mailbox (42%), not leaving their digital equipment(smartphone, computer, tablet, etc.) on charge all night (39%) and increasing the lifespan of digital devices(smartphone, computer, tablet, TV, etc.) by taking care of them, having them repaired, etc. (38%) are among the most effective ways of reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology. Increasing the lifespan of digital devices is one of the priority uses identified by ADEME and Arcep, unlike the other two (sorting emails, not leaving equipment on charge at night), which are less far-reaching. Of the three main uses cited, only one is likely to have a significant impact on the environmental footprint of digital technology. In this respect, almost one person in two with a fixed Internet connection has unused digital equipment in their household. Between 2022 and 2023, the total number of digital devices owned remains very similar: 10 devices (phones, TVs, computers, consoles, tablets, connected watches or bracelets...) are owned on average. Cell phones or smartphones (3 inmates on average), and televisions (2 inmates) are the most frequently owned equipment, along with laptops or desktop computers (2 inmates). On average, 2.4 of these items will not be used in 2023 (compared with 2.6 in 2022). Cell phones or smartphones (0.6) and televisions (0.5) top the list of unused equipment.However, the proportion of the population personally owning a second-hand or reconditioned smartphone is increasing significantly: 19% in 2023 compared with 17% a year earlier. However, the purchase of a reconditioned smartphone for environmental reasons is marginal: 10% of the population have already bought a smartphone for themselves, and just as many (10%) for another person. Price is a much more attractive criterion for buying a refurbished smartphone , especially when it's for one's own use (23%) rather than someone else's (17%). Young people are the most likely to choose a refurbished smartphone with a view to preserving the environment: 33% of 18-24 year-olds have a refurbished smartphone , compared with 18% of 40-59 year-olds. A benchmark study led by Arcep, CGE, Arcom and ANCTInitiated in 2000, the objectives of this study are to:measure the adoption of digital equipment by the French and study digital practices;detect inequalities in access and skills, whether voluntary or involuntary;enable public authorities to anticipate major trends and implement a policy that encourages everyone to embrace digital technology.In 2023, the survey was carried out in July 2023 among 4,267 people aged 12 and over. The results are based on different samples and collection methods, which have been combined to provide a representation of French society aged 12 and over: questions were included in the CREDOC survey on living conditions and aspirations of the French conducted online in July 2023 among 3,448 people aged 18 and over living in mainland France; This survey was supplemented by two specific tools: an online survey of 218 young people aged 12 to 17; and a telephone survey of 601 people aged 18 and over who do not have a fixed Internet connection at home. Open dataAll survey data since 2007 is available as open data on the website data.gouv.fr.

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Published on 14/05/24



Main results of the 2022 digital barometer

According to this new edition of the Digital Barometer, piloted by Arcep, Arcom, CGE and ANCT, the vast majority of French people use the Internet (92%), with the proportion of Internet users reaching 96% among people in their 60s. Only people over 70 years old stand out with 63% of Internet users. On average, the French spend 32 hours per week in front of a screen, which is almost one fifth of the weekly time or a little less than one third awake. More than half of the population spends on average more than three hours a day in front of a screen.The old uses are installed, the new uses take offSome uses are showing signs of decline, such as social networks (62% vs. 67% in 2020), which have already been rejected by younger people for several years (68% vs. 84% in 2017). But old uses are well established, such as job search is slowly progressing (29% against 26% in 2017). Note that 83% of unemployed workers use the Internet to look for a job. Administrative and fiscal procedures are not evolving much in the long term, but are already at a high level (71% of the population as in 2020, against 67% in 2017).The share of online buyers had jumped during the health crisis, this habit has not fallen back (77% against 76% in 2020). If 7% of the population owns a virtual reality headset, one French person out of five has already tried this new digital tool and 1 out of 5 would like to do so.However, more people are encountering barriers to full digital use48% of French people experience at least one form of difficulty that prevents them from fully using digital tools and the Internet (+13 points compared to 2020). More than equipment or Internet access, it is the complete mastery of digital tools that remains the primary obstacle to the full use of digital technology (25%, +7 points compared to 2020). At first glance, this may seem contradictory to the increase in digital usage by the French, but greater use of digital tools can also be accompanied by an awareness of their limitations and therefore an identification of a margin for improvement in the mastery of these tools.Growing inequalities in digital skillsTwo years after the beginning of the health crisis, on average, more than one out of two French adults feel they have a better command of these tools (56%). However, this average is underpinned by major disparities. Indeed, if the feeling of having better appropriated digital tools with the pandemic is marked among executives and higher intellectual professions (71%), on the other hand, the majority of French people among the most vulnerable (non-graduates and people aged 70 and over) do not feel that they have gained in mastery over the last two years (53% and 56% respectively). As a result, the gap is widening in terms of the French feeling that their skills have increased.Difficulties in completing administrative procedures online are increasing The dematerialization of public services has been unfolding for two decades, with a strong acceleration recently. We have seen an increase in the proportion of people who at least sometimes have difficulty completing administrative procedures online (54%, +16 points compared to 2020). Faced with these difficulties, the most popular solution is to ask for explanations in order to successfully complete the process alone (40%, +16 points compared to 2020). Consequently, when faced with online difficulties, on average, the French prefer to learn and increase their skills in order to become more autonomous, especially since these online procedures often involve sensitive personal data and can have significant effects on daily life.Some of the features offered by digital devices contribute to better access to online contentAmong the different functionalities available, adjusting the brightness (83%) and zooming the screen (80%) are the most used by the entire population equipped with a digital terminal, while about 6 out of 10 French people equipped with a digital terminal have already used adjusting the font size, increasing the contrast and voice commands. Audiodescription and color inversion are not widely used, with about a third of French people having used one of these features. The users of these features are generally under 40 years old, with notably a greater use of voice commands, color inversion and audio description by 18-24 year olds.Security and trust are at the heart of the usesThe news shows that digital technology brings risks (computer attacks, scams, loss of data, etc.), the majority of individuals believe that they have certainly (18%) or probably (38%) personally been a victim of unwanted access to their personal data via the Internet.This is probably why almost all users take precautions with more (55%) or less (38%) constant vigilance.The terms and conditions of a social network or video sharing platform have been consulted by 52% of Internet users. Among Internet users who have read the terms and conditions at least once, 77% indicate that this information is easily accessible. On the other hand, ease of understanding seems to be less of an issue, with 53% of Internet users who have consulted the terms and conditions believing that they are easy to understand.42% of Internet users have already reported an account or inappropriate content using the mechanisms set up by social networks or video sharing platforms. The authors of reports largely consider that the systems in place are easily accessible (87%), simple to use (85%) and easy to understand (80%). Initiated in 2000, the objectives of this study are:measure the adoption of digital equipment by the French and study digital practices to detect inequalities in access and skills, whether voluntary or involuntary;to allow public authorities to anticipate major trends and implement a policy that encourages everyone to adopt digital technology.In 2022, The survey was conducted between June 15 and July 15, 2022 among 4,184 people, divided into three distinct target populations (12 to 17 years old, 18 years old and over, 18 years old and over far from digital), with adapted questionnaires and specific quotas, and thanks to two types of collection:3,448 people aged 15 and over were interviewed online in the VCT survey (within each region, quota on: age, gender, PCS, level of education, size of town, type of housing).573 people aged 18 and over, referred to in the report as "digitally remote" (i.e., not having a fixed Internet connection at home), were interviewed by telephone, using quotas from a flash survey conducted by telephone among 1,000 people aged 18 and over (gender, age, social class, region, city size)163 people aged 12 to 14 were interviewed online, after obtaining the prior consent of one of their parents, with the following quotas: age, gender, size of town, and social class of the reference personAll survey data since 2007 is available in open data on the data.gouv.fr website.

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Published on 30/01/23



Digital Barometer 2021: the main results

A reference study led by Arcep, the CGE, and the ANCT's Digital Society ProgramThis annual study, conducted since 2000 by CREDOC, has the following objectives measure the adoption of equipment by the French and study digital practices; to detect inequalities in access and skills, whether voluntary or involuntary; to enable public authorities to anticipate major trends and implement a policy that promotes the appropriation of digital technology by all. The survey, usually administered face-to-face between June and July, was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Another organization was set up, with a mixed collection organized between December 4, 2020 and January 9, 2021: online but also, to correct the selection bias, by telephone.The survey was conducted among 4,029 people with adapted questionnaires and specific quotas. The results presented are adjusted results: they are therefore representative of the population aged 12 and over residing in metropolitan France and, as such, are compared with previous results from face-to-face surveys.  Ever more present in the daily life of the French, smartphones represent an environmental challenge Over the past decade, smartphone use has grown massively in France. At the end of 2020, 84% of people aged 12 and over owned a smartphone, a proportion that has increased by seven points in one year. While the smartphone has become an indispensable part of French people's daily lives(73% of respondents use it every day), it will account for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly during its design, i.e. 11% of the global digital footprint in 2019, according to the Senate's information report.One of the challenges would be to increase the total duration of use of smartphones, corresponding to the sum of the individual usage durations, thus extending their lifespan (a smartphone can indeed be used by several individuals during its lifetime, either because it is given away or because it is resold). Individual ownership periods seem to remain limited, as 84% of smartphone owners say they have owned their device for less than three years. The total length of time a smartphone is used could also be extended with a wider adoption of second-hand smartphones. The refurbishment and second-hand market is growing, but these second-hand smartphones still only represent 17% of all smartphones used by people aged 12 and over.The purchase of new smartphones and their relatively rapid renewal is therefore a norm. While there are many reasons for renewing a smartphone, in the majority of cases (37%), respondents said they renewed their smartphone because it was no longer working properly or because the operating system was no longer updated. In these cases, increasing repairability or allowing the operating system to be updated over a longer period of time would undoubtedly lead to an increase in usage time.When smartphones are replaced, selling, donating or recycling old devices is an important part of the practice (42%), but still a minority. More than half (53%) of old devices are kept at home. Among the reasons mentioned, 52% of people consider that the old device can still be used, but in 25% of cases, support would potentially allow reuse or recycling: indeed, 16% of respondents say they do not know what to do with it and 9% keep it for data security reasons.  Like the smartphone, the use of digital equipment and usages have increased significantly during the health crisis The health crisis and in particular the various confinements have multiplied the digital uses and needs for using equipment: telecommuting, online school, interpersonal exchanges, leisure, shopping, etc. Whatever the digital equipment (smartphone, tablet, computer, fixed phone, connected speaker), the proportion of users is increasing significantly, and in particular the use of tablets (58% of individuals use one, +17 points), connected speakers (24%, +13 points) and computers (88%, +12 points). For the latter, the need for daily use has been massive, with 66% of daily users (+19 points), driven by the spread of telecommuting and online schooling, especially during successive lockdowns.The need to communicate was reflected in the massive use of telephone services from fixed and mobile networks, but also in the use of communication software: 79% of smartphone owners made use of instant messaging and 67% made phone calls via applications. However, the daily frequency of use decreases with the arrival of new users: to keep a link with the outside world during the health crisis, seniors downloaded these applications more frequently, but did not use them regularly.The health crisis has also intensified the purchase of goods online, and consequently the delivery of parcels: 76% of the French population aged twelve and over declared having made at least one purchase of goods on the internet in the last 12 months, compared to 62% in 2019. Among these users, half have used online shopping at least once a month (+13 points in two years). Buying online and selling are becoming common practices. Thus, 44% of the French sell goods or services (29% in 2015). Online buyers are more likely to be sellers as well (55%, +11 points).After stalling for the last three years, the share of Internet users has grown by 4 points this year to reach 92%. This evolution concerns the over-60s who have taken up digital technology (93% in the 60-69 age group, +12 points compared to 2019 and 71% for the over-70s, +13 points) and the non-graduates (66%, +11 points compared to 2019). 83% of the population connects to the internet daily.During the periods of confinement (from mid-March to mid-May, then again from the end of October), uses diversified. The Internet has massively allowed to maintain social links: 3 out of 4 people have used it to communicate with their relatives. 62% of people have searched for information about the pandemic, one adult out of three has teleworked (33%), three out of ten have followed their children's schooling or have helped them to follow courses online (30%) and one out of four (26%) has carried out a medical consultation online.Buying on the Internet and selling are becoming common practices. Thus, 44% of the French sell goods or services (29% in 2015). Online buyers are more likely to be, also, sellers (55%, +11 points).  The time spent in front of the screens is almost stable The weekly time spent in front of the television is on average 19h (+ 1h since 2018), on the internet 19h (+ 1h since 2018). While two-thirds of the population watch movies on the internet (half in 2018), the viewing time remains stable at 6h per week.   The French are equipped with a cell phone at an increasingly young age Among the under 25s, 35% had their first cell phone before the age of 12, girls (41%) more than boys (30%). Among the 12 to 17 year olds, 44% had their first cell phone before the age of 12, so the first equipment is becoming increasingly early.  Thanks to digital technology, working people are reconciling their private and professional lives For a growing share of working people, the internet allows for a better work-life balance (58%, +4 points compared to 2017 and +16 points compared to 2013). The feeling that the use of new technologies for professional purposes outside of normal working hours and environments encroaches too much on private life is down 10 points (from 40% in 2013 to 33% in 2017 and to 23% this year).These responses are all the more noteworthy given that not all working people have a right to disconnect in their professional environment, guaranteed by a charter or an appropriate mechanism. 34% do not. While 43% are covered, 7% state that the effectiveness of this right is limited.  Continuing education has increased the sense of competence of the workforce For 62% of working people (51% in 2017), continuing education prepares them well for using digital technology at work . This concerns teleworkers (72%) much more than blue-collar workers (44%, up 9 points however).  With the increase in usage, the French are adapting their behavior Fears related to the lack of protection of personal data on the Internet are decreasing (26%, -14 points). The issue of personal data is still the main obstacle cited, far ahead of the quality of service (10%, +5 points), especially among Internet users. Conversely, non-Internet users more often point to complexity or lack of usefulness (22% and 20%).The fear expressed with regard to personal data protection is decreasing due to the spread of precautionary practices massively adopted. 29% of users would thus have turned off their cell phone to avoid being tracked (+ 12 points compared to 2014). 66% would have given up on a purchase due to a lack of trust at the time of payment (+7 points).However, these precautions are not always sufficient. In the population as a whole, embarrassing situations related to the exposure of one's private life online are on the rise: 20% of respondents regret having published or written things about their private life on the internet (8% in 2014, + 12 points). 29% have already been embarrassed that some elements of their private life appear on the internet (19% in 2014, +10 points).  Open Data 27% of French people have already consulted open public data. 30% know that it is possible to access this data without having consulted it.The benefits recognized are innovation and development of new services (47%), administrative transparency (48%) and knowledge, especially for researchers (49%).  Persistent obstacles to the full use of digital technology While with the increased use of equipment, the feeling of competence is progressing compared to 2017 (computer 82%, +15 points; smartphone 80%, +11 points; tablet 68%, +6 points), 35% of French people experience at least one form of difficulty that prevents them from fully using digital tools and the internet. More than equipment or Internet access, it is the complete mastery of digital tools that remains the primary obstacle to the full use of digital technology (18%).  Daily digital uses carried out with varying degrees of ease during periods of confinement Among the main digital uses during the period of confinement, school follow-up was the least easy. Indeed, 36% of the persons concerned have carried out these steps either alone with difficulties or with help or simply did not succeed. Conversely, it was exchanges with family and friends and searching for information on the Internet that proved to be the easiest actions to carry out independently, without needing help and without difficulty (88% and 87% respectively). However, behind these high average rates, there is significant heterogeneity according to population categories. For example, non-graduates were more backward in their use of digital tools to exchange with their family and friends or to do research on the Internet. Only 39% of them indicate that they used these communication tools without difficulty (i.e. 26 points less than the general average) and 60% of them indicate that they did not search for information on the Internet about Covid for example (i.e. 25 points more than the average).  Human and educational support in case of difficulty While a small majority of French people always say they manage to complete their procedures online (57%), when they are unable to complete a procedure online, the French people surveyed prefer that someone show them or explain to them how to complete the procedure alone (56%), rather than have someone do it for them (32%). Moreover, 30% of French people ask for help from someone, either from relatives (22%) or by phoning the dedicated service for remote assistance (8%), when they are unable to complete an online procedure.  The data Find 13 years of open data from the Digital Barometer shared with the Etalab open license on Arcep's data.gouv.fr page.

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Published on 01/07/21



Digital barometer 2019: main results

Like every year, this reference study, led by Arcep, the CGE and the Agence du Numérique, sheds light on the frequency and diversity of digital uses, on the benefits that people derive from them (in terms of sociability, ability to inform and learn, "power to act") but also on the concerns that arise from the widespread use of digital technology, particularly in the administrative sphere.This 19th edition of the Barometer is based on a survey conducted "face to face" with a representative sample of the French population aged 12 and over, selected according to the quota method: 2,277 people were interviewed at home (2,052 adults and 207 young people).The smartphone, at the heart of digital usesThe smartphone is consolidating its position as the reference digital equipment.The year 2019 will thus see the smartphone equipment rate (77%, +2 points) exceed that of the computer (76%, -2 points). Credoc observes, however, " a slight slowdown in the growth of the smartphone penetration rate since 2016, suggesting that this equipment is entering its maturity phase, characterized by a slower evolution in the coming years. " Computer equipment, on the other hand, is in a period of decline (76% in 2019, or -7 points since 2012). Most used equipment to connect to the internetWhile the cell phone or smartphone was already the equipment most used daily by the French in 2017, this trend continues and the gap is even widening with computer use: in 2019, 82% of the French say they use their phone or smartphone daily (+3 points compared to 2017) against 47% for the computer (-5 points). In this logic, the smartphone is the preferred equipment for connecting to the Internet in 2019 (for 51% of the French, +9 points, against 31% for the computer, -7 points).This preference for smartphones is particularly evident among adults aged 25 to 39, who have seen a 6-point drop in computer equipment over the past year, compared with a 3-point increase in smartphone equipment.This trend echoes, observes Credoc, " the decline in the perceived usefulness of the computer among the under 40s (-5 points compared to 2017). The dominant position of the smartphone is therefore due, in part, to a relative lack of interest in the computer among French people under 40, who are less mobile, which for some of them translates into a lack of equipment. Smartphone and computer equipment rate by ageThis trend is reinforced by another determining factor in the rate of smartphone and computer ownership: income level. Thus, 79% of high-income earners are multi-equipped with a smartphone and a computer, compared to 51% of low-income earners.The poorest households saw their rate of multi-equipment increase by an average of two points per year between 2013 and 2018, compared to an average of four points in the total population. This category of the population has seen the biggest increase in the perceived usefulness of the smartphone (+7 points in two years, compared to +2 points on average). It appears that financial capabilities constrain the equipment choices of the French and push them to prioritize the smartphone over the computer."In the end, the data seem to indicate, according to Credoc, a substitution effect: on the one hand "technological" with young people increasingly mobile; and "economic" on the other hand, with the notion of financial constraint that comes to limit the choices in digital equipment". Instant messaging is becoming a part of French people's daily livesInternet-related mobile uses are growing rapidly. Thus, in 2019, 68% of the population uses a phone to browse the internet (+4 points compared to 2018).The increase in the use of instant messaging is even clearer: 62% of French people send messages and 51% make phone calls via applications, representing respective increases of +9 points and +11 points in one year. Proportion of the population that uses a cell phone to ..."While age remains the primary determinant of instant messaging usage, the excitement surrounding them is shared by all segments of the population, whether it's for texting or calling."Nearly half of the population (49%) uses applications to send text messages on a daily basis (+8 points); 28% of the individuals surveyed make phone calls every day using instant messaging (+13 points)."Without yet dethroning SMS, instant messaging is becoming a full-fledged mode of communication, no longer limited to specific times or types of contacts (travel abroad, group communication, ...)"23% of the French people concerned now use instant messaging more often than SMS (+7 points compared to 2018). Internet access is stabilizing; practices are becoming more mobileFor the first time, the use of the Internet by the population is slightly decreasing in 2019 (-1 point): 88% of French people aged 12 and over are Internet users."Without postulating the beginning of a decline in French connectivity, several signals nevertheless tend to show a stabilization of Internet access": daily use drops by two points (to 78%), while the fixed Internet connection at home remains at the same level as last year (86%). Internet penetration rate in the population"Connection modes continue to evolve toward ever more mobility: in 2019, different types of connections are converging."Credoc observes, in fact, a decline in connection by computer via fixed internet (-1 point compared to 2018 at 74%) and the increase in connection via mobile internet regardless of the medium (57%, +2 points) and the increase in connection via mobile medium - smartphone, tablet (65%, +1 point)."This trend shows that above all, the French are attached to their connectivity, whatever the interface and mode: the smartphone is then the digital object best suited to this quest for permanent connectivity. The different ways to connect to the Internet at homeAt the same time, between 2017 and 2019, only the perceived usefulness of the smartphone and mobile internet increases in the population, albeit slightly, respectively +2 points and +1 point. Even if their usefulness remains higher, the computer and the fixed internet register decreases (respectively -3 points and -5 points). Digital technology, between positive impacts and palpable limitsDigital technology has become an integral part of our lives: it is inserted into our lives at a very early age: one out of two Internet users under the age of 20 went online for the first time at the age of 10 or even before."The impact of digital is far from neutral: the opportunities associated with this change are as numerous as the concerns associated with it."The 2018 edition of the Digital Barometer had highlighted people's fears about personal data protection."In 2019, despite some localized concerns, particularly about the environment, the French rather appreciate the influence of digital technologies on various aspects of their daily lives.Having access to the Internet is a condition perceived as increasingly necessary to feel integrated in society. The role of digital technology in the evolution of relations between citizens and their public administrations is perceived as essential by the population. An ever-increasing use of social networks, which does not prevent a certain mistrustFor three years, 6 out of 10 people have been using social networks. After the pause spotted last year, this practice gains 1 point this year, " perhaps in connection with increased mobilization of certain population groups, especially in the wake of the "Yellow Vests" protest movements that emerged last fall." Proportion of individuals who have used a social network in the last 12 monthsTelevision and the Internet are the most popular ways to follow and understand the news in 2019. This year, 63% of French people say they get their information online (+5 points compared to 2016). Television and the Internet occupy the first places in the media ranking, whether to follow the news (respectively 48% and 19% of quotes) or to understand it (40% and 22%).Social networks, on the other hand, are far from being the media of reference in this respect, since only 4% of respondents say that social networks are the media that allow them to better understand the news.The under 40s, however, tend to abandon traditional media and turn more readily to the Internet, and for the younger generation (12-24) to social networks: 23% of 12-17 year olds say that social networks are the best way to follow the news; 18-24 year olds are the only ones to cite the Internet ahead of television (38% vs. 29%).Even if the distrust towards social networks is important when it comes to analyzing information, the 18-39 year olds consider that the internet is the media that best allows them to understand current events.When it comes to choosing the media in which the French have the least confidence, television continues to win over the population (51% cite it as their first or second choice), followed by the written press (42%).Trust in social networks, on the other hand, is particularly low (8%). This skepticism is also found when it comes to reacting to " surprising information"."If, whatever the source, half of the population does not react particularly when confronted with surprising information, we observe that when it comes from a social network, the proportion of individuals who say they want to share it immediately is relatively lower than for other sources. Thus, only 9% of respondents say they want to share immediately a surprising information seen on social networks against 14% when it was reported by a traditional media, 16% by an institutional source and 18% by a relative".Moreover, the French tend to check information from an institutional source less often (25%) than from another, a sign of relative confidence in information from a public institution. Reactions to surprising information reported by different sourcesWho wants to share information?"Optimistic people are more likely to want to share surprising information. Thus, 18% of individuals who think that their living conditions will improve in the next five years want to share surprising information reported on the radio, on television or in the press, 21% by people close to them and 12% by social networks. The same proportions are found among individuals who believe that the standard of living of all French people has improved over the past ten years.At the same time, other categories that are less optimistic and less satisfied with their lot also show a certain taste for sharing. For example, if we look at the positioning towards the Yellow Vests movement, the respondents who say they are part of it are also the most likely to share immediate information regardless of the source (with the notable exception of institutional sources): 22% on the radio, television or in the press; 20% through family or close circle; 21% through social networks."  Overall positive impact of digital technology, except for environmental protectionDigital technology is perceived positively in terms of its impact on the private and professional lives of the French.63% of the population say that the Internet and information technology have a positive impact on their private life, while 71% of employed people report a positive impact on their professional life.Digital technology increasingly favors sociability: 51% of respondents say they have found old acquaintances thanks to the internet (+11 points compared to 2014), 44% have made new friendships (+17 points) and 15% have met someone in love through this medium (+5 points)."The corollary of these new forms of digital socialization is that it is becoming more and more crucial in the eyes of French citizens to be connected in order to feel integrated into society (68%, +3 points in one year, +14 points in ten years).Polarization of French opinions regarding digital change28% of the population does not feel ready to adopt new digital technologies or services (+5 points compared to 2017), while at the same time, the proportion of individuals ready to embrace digital change immediately increases by 3 points (27%, +3 points).Age plays a particularly important role in this polarization: 39% of 18-24 year olds feel ready to adopt new digital technologies or services immediately (+15 points), while more than a quarter (26%) of 40-59 year olds do not want to go down this path (+8 points).This trend is illustrated by the position of citizens in relation to connected objects: while 9% of the population claims to already own a connected speaker, more than two-thirds of French people do not intend to use connected objects in the future, regardless of their possible use: household appliances, health, home automation, security. "This disinterest may be rooted in the population's concern about the use of personal data collected by these devices, despite the adoption of the RGPD.""This position contrasts with the relative optimism of the French regarding the impact of digital technology on various social issues such as employment and education, despite the decline in these indicators over the past ten years.For a large majority of French people, digital technology is an opportunity for education and training (70%), employment (70%) and artistic creation (66%).However, the proportion of our fellow citizens who consider the impact of computers and the Internet on employment as an opportunity is decreasing sharply (-14 points compared to 2008)."This trend echoes concerns about changes in the labor market."The negative impact of digital technology on environmental protection is even more pronounced: only 38% of those surveyed in 2019 think that digital technologies represent an opportunity for the environment (-15 points compared to 2008). While young adults do not fear, unlike their elders, that technology can be a threat to employment, they are the ones who have been the most disappointed in ten years about the positive role that digital technology can have on the environment (-19 points for 18-24 year olds and -18 points for 25-39 year olds).Faced with these growing concerns about the impact of digital technology on the environment, the French seem ready to make efforts to limit their individual impact. Thus, 80% of the French agree with the idea of reducing the impact of their equipment on the environment (e.g. by keeping it longer or buying second-hand or reconditioned equipment) and 69% with the idea of reducing the impact of their uses (e.g. by preferring to download content rather than streaming). Similarly, a majority of the population says they are willing to accept a price premium of around 5% to reduce the power consumption of their computer and to encourage recycling (respectively 70%, +5 points compared to 2009 and 73%, +8 points)."The French therefore remain positive about the role of digital technology in their lives as individuals and in society as a whole (except for its environmental impact). However, in ten years, Credoc observes, confidence in digital technology as a driver of innovation and social development, although high, has eroded. The key role of digital technology in the evolution of relations with public administrationsThe Internet and digital technologies are also changing the relationship between the public administration and citizens, with the possibility (or even the obligation) to carry out more and more procedures online: among the 434 online services listed on the Service-Public.fr website, there are in particular the services of the tax administration, social assistance, applications for driving licenses, etc.In order to communicate with the administration and assert their rights, the question arises as to the ability of individuals to use computer and digital tools. The proportion of those who never use these tools or who give up at the slightest difficulty has dropped slightly (16%, compared to 18% last year). 4 adults out of 10 manage on their own or have no particular difficulties. Most often, when faced with a difficulty, people seek help (44%), preferably from someone close to them (35%). These strategies depend mainly on age. Adults aged 18 to 39 do not need help, while individuals aged 70 and over are often excluded from the digital society. Thus, it is mainly adults aged 40 to 69 who ask for help.Overall, only one adult out of three does not see any obstacle to completing administrative procedures online.The possible obstacles are varied: difficulty with computers and the Internet (16% of the first responses), complexity of the administrative procedures themselves (11%), lack of site design (10%) or the absence of a contact person who can provide assistance (10%). Among the proposals made to them, the French prefer a place that brings together several public services and other local services (shops, media libraries, social centers, etc.) as the ideal place to help with online administrative procedures: 40% of adults opt for this solution.For the time being, only a minority of adults surveyed (19%) say that administrative procedures have become simpler in recent years. Conversely, 37% of them consider that they have become more complex. Perception of the evolution of relations with public administrations in recent yearsDigital technology is strongly involved in these changes (86%). On the other hand, we observe that the role of digital seems relatively more important in simplifying than in complicating (93% vs. 82%), especially for populations over 40, who blame digital more often than 18-39 year olds (85% vs. 73%). It is possible that digital change has disrupted the habits established over a lifetime by these populations, implying a profound transformation in the way they interact with government

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Published on 27/09/22



Digital barometer 2018: the main results

A reference study led by Arcep, the CGE and the Agence du Numérique. This annual study conducted since 2000 is carried out by CREDOC: Survey conducted face-to-face in June 2018 among 2,214 people representative of the population aged 12 and over using the quota method. The questionnaire and the approach are adapted for minors. The questions of the Agence du Numérique were only asked to adults. This survey describes the equipment and uses of individuals (not households). Mobile networks, increasingly essential in the use of the FrenchThe gap between the French in terms of mobile and fixed telephony equipment is widening. Fixed-line telephone equipment continues to decline, while mobile telephone equipment has stabilized at 94%. In addition, only smartphone equipment is progressing in 2018: 3 out of 4 people use it. As for other equipment, a plateau seems to have been reached.The smartphone definitely remains the most used terminal to access the internet, with 46%(+4 points compared to 2017) of the population aged 12 and over connecting to the internet mainly via smartphone, while the rate of users preferring to connect to the internet through a computer decreases by 3 points and stands at 35%.This growth is driven by the development of 4G networks, access to which is becoming increasingly easy. In 2018, 61% of cell phone owners connect to the internet through 4G networks (+20 points in two years).Moreover, in the way of connecting at home, connections on the mobile network are the only ones to progress.This growth in mobile usage is accompanied by both increased usage and intensification of mobile services when traveling within the European Union, one year after the implementation of the European roaming regulation ("Roam like at home"). On the one hand, 8 out of 10 travelers use their cell phone when traveling in the European Union (+9 points compared to 2017) and on the other hand, all mobile services are concerned by the intensification of usage: making calls, using the internet connection and sending SMS. The ways in which the French watch audiovisual content are changing Today, 71% of the population uses fixed networks to watch TV, an increase of 14 points in 4 years, mainly due to the adoption of fiber optic networks. At the same time, the rate of declared access to DTT on the main TV set has decreased by 10 points over the same period.These changes are accompanied by a decrease in the number of television sets, with the rate of those equipped with at least two sets being in the minority. The time spent watching television tends to decrease, falling to 18 hours per week (-2 hours compared to 2016) while the time spent watching videos on the internet increases.The television set is now competing with other terminals and uses: 33% of French people have watched TV replay and other videos on a phone, tablet or computer in the last 12 months, and this rate rises to 75% among young adults.The arrival of SVOD platforms and their success is transforming the audiovisual habits of the French. 25% of the population now has a subscription that allows them to watch VOD, series or unlimited movies (+5 points compared to 2016). Some uses level off, the share of Internet users is growing In 2018, 89% of the population is an internet user (+1 point compared to 2017) and 80% of people connect daily (+4 points compared to 2017). While the over 70s are less often internet users than younger people (60% vs. 100% of 18-24 year olds), they are increasingly using the internet with 7 points more in 2018 after a 5 point increase in 2017 and 10 points in 2016. Similarly, the over 70s are 45% to connect to the internet every day (+7 points in 2018, +7 points in 2017 and +9 points in 2016).The search for job offers on the internet is slightly increasing (+ 1 point). While the share of online shoppers consolidates at 61%, the frequency of purchases increases: the share of those who buy at least once a week goes from 29% to 35% between 2016 and 2018. Participation in social networks remains at 59%, it is even down significantly among 12-17 year olds (-8 points) and 18-24 year olds (-3 points). Health in the digital age: a strong potential for development One person in two uses the Internet to search for information about their health or that of their loved ones (+9 points in 3 years). 37% of the population (46% of 18-24 year olds) are ready to improve their lifestyle, communicate with their doctor or monitor their health status using digital technology. There is therefore considerable scope for developing digital health uses, particularly among young adults. Sensitivity to personal data protection is growing On the rise for the past 10 years and accelerating in 2018, concern about insufficient personal data protection is the number one barrier to internet use.The implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 only reassures a quarter of French people. However, a majority of them do not seem willing to pay for services that would guarantee the protection of this data. Some would even prefer to share it rather than pay for a service that was previously free. The mastery of digital tools is still an obstacle to their use, despite an appetite for training Among non-internet users, 31% feel the internet is too complicated to use, down 14 points since 2017.36% of French people are worried about completing most of their administrative procedures online. For 36% of them, the feeling of incompetence in computing is the first source of concern, especially with regard to administrative sites (13%, up 4 points compared to 2016). 43% of adults seek help in case of difficulties with computer tools, most often from relatives (36%), 39% say they manage on their own or have no particular difficulty and 8% stop using them.Among those who have difficulties using computer tools, nearly 40% of them would like to be able to receive training , mainly in the form of a short, free course, in order to be autonomous with these tools (33%). 7 out of 10 people know of at least one place (media libraries, public digital spaces, public service centers, etc.) near their home where they can get help with online procedures and digital learning, but they very rarely use these structures in case of difficulties.26% of the people willing to follow a short free training and 30% of those willing to follow a more complete paid training do not know any place where they could be accompanied and trained. This shows that the willingness of the individuals interviewed could be hampered by a problem of knowledge of suitable places in their immediate environment, particularly of the training or support offer that they can find there. Mobile networks, increasingly essential in the use of the French The gap between the French in terms of mobile and fixed telephony equipment is still widening. Fixed-line telephone equipment continues to decline, while mobile telephone equipment has stabilized at 94%. In addition, only smartphone equipment is progressing in 2018: 3 out of 4 people use it. As for other equipment, a plateau seems to have been reached.The smartphone definitely remains the most used terminal to access the internet, with 46% (+4 points compared to 2017) of the population aged 12 and over connecting to the internet mainly via smartphone, while the rate of users preferring to connect to the internet through a computer decreases by 3 points and stands at 35%.This growth is driven by the development of 4G networks, access to which is becoming increasingly easy. In 2018, 61% of cell phone owners connect to the internet through 4G networks (+20 points in two years). Moreover, in the way of connecting at home, connections on the mobile network are the only ones to progress.This growth in mobile usage is accompanied by both increased usage and intensification of mobile services when traveling within the European Union, one year after the implementation of the European roaming regulation ("Roam like at home"). On the one hand, 8 out of 10 travelers use their cell phone when traveling in the European Union (+9 points compared to 2017) and on the other hand, all mobile services are concerned by the intensification of usage: making calls, using the internet connection and sending SMS. The ways in which the French watch audiovisual content are changing Today, 71% of the population uses fixed networks to watch TV, an increase of 14 points in 4 years, mainly due to the adoption of fiber optic networks. At the same time, the rate of declared access to DTT on the main TV set has dropped by 10 points over the same period.These changes are accompanied by a decrease in the number of television sets, with the rate of those equipped with at least two sets being in the minority. The time spent watching television tends to decrease, falling to 18 hours per week (-2 hours compared to 2016) while the time spent watching videos on the internet increases.The television set is now competing with other terminals and uses: 33% of French people have watched TV replay and other videos on a phone, tablet or computer in the last 12 months, and this rate rises to 75% among young adults.The arrival of SVOD platforms and their success is transforming the audiovisual habits of the French. 25% of the population now has a subscription that allows them to watch VOD, series or unlimited movies (+5 points compared to 2016). Some uses level off, the share of Internet users is growing In 2018, 89% of the population is an internet user (+1 point compared to 2017) and 80% of people connect daily (+4 points compared to 2017). While the over 70s are less often internet users than younger people (60% vs. 100% of 18-24 year olds), they are increasingly using the internet with 7 points more in 2018 after a 5 point increase in 2017 and 10 points in 2016. Similarly, the over 70s are 45% to connect to the internet every day (+7 points in 2018, +7 points in 2017 and +9 points in 2016).The search for job offers on the internet is slightly increasing (+ 1 point). While the share of online shoppers consolidates at 61%, the frequency of purchases increases: the share of those who buy at least once a week goes from 29% to 35% between 2016 and 2018. Participation in social networks remains at 59%, it is even down significantly among 12-17 year olds (-8 points) and 18-24 year olds (-3 points). Health in the digital age: a strong potential for development One person in two uses the Internet to search for information about their health or that of their loved ones (+9 points in 3 years). 37% of the population (46% of 18-24 year olds) are ready to improve their lifestyle, communicate with their doctor or monitor their health status using digital technology. There is therefore considerable scope for developing digital health uses, particularly among young adults. Sensitivity to personal data protection is growing On the rise for the past 10 years and accelerating in 2018, concern about insufficient personal data protection is the number one barrier to internet use.The implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 only reassures a quarter of French people. However, a majority of them do not seem willing to pay for services that would guarantee the protection of this data. Some would even prefer to share it rather than pay for a service that was previously free. The mastery of digital tools is still an obstacle to their use, despite an appetite for trainingAmong non-internet users, 31% feel that the Internet is too complicated to use, down 14 points since 2017.36% of French people are worried about completing most of their administrative procedures online. For 36% of them, the feeling of incompetence in computing is the first source of concern, especially with regard to administrative sites (13%, up 4 points compared to 2016). 43% of adults seek help in case of difficulties with computer tools, most often from relatives (36%), 39% say they manage on their own or have no particular difficulty and 8% stop using them.Among those who have difficulties using computer tools, nearly 40% of them would like to be able to receive training , mainly in the form of a short, free course, in order to be autonomous with these tools (33%). 7 out of 10 people know of at least one place (media libraries, public digital spaces, public service centers, etc.) near their home where they can get help with online procedures and digital learning, but they very rarely use these structures in case of difficulties.26% of the people willing to follow a short free training and 30% of those willing to follow a more complete paid training do not know any place where they could be accompanied and trained. This shows that the willingness of the individuals interviewed could be hampered by a problem of knowledge of suitable places in their immediate environment, particularly of the training or support offer that they can find there.

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Published on 03/12/18