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More than half of French people exchange on social networks

Published on 04 June 2017
Update on 26 September 2022
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Summary

In 2016, more than half of the population participated in social networks (56%, or two-thirds of Internet users alone), according to the latest Digital Barometer, conducted by Credoc, on behalf of ARCEP, the General Economic Council (CGE) and the Digital Agency.

This proportion has been growing steadily since 2009; it has more than doubled in less than six years. The use of social networks is very strongly linked to age, with 18-24 year olds being the most frequent users, with more than nine out of ten young people connected.

Between 2014 and 2016, the rate of participation in social networks increased significantly (+8 points in the general population). This average increase is rather accompanied by a resorption of inequalities, with the categories least connected to social networks experiencing the largest increases.

The participation of people with few qualifications (no qualifications and BEPC) increased by 9 points, as did that of people with low incomes. The same catching-up effect occurred according to the size of the urban area of residence: it is the inhabitants of rural municipalities (less than 2,000 inhabitants) and municipalities with 2,000 to 20,000 inhabitants who experienced the strongest growth (respectively +12 points and +15 points), while the rate stagnated in Paris and in the major regional metropolitan areas (+1 point).

The Social Life 2017 survey - annual barometer of social network usage in France, published at the end of March by Harris interactive, provides additional insight (based on an online survey of 2,000 people).

Three quarters of Internet users have used at least one social network in the last month.

More than half (57%) of Internet users are daily users of at least one social network.

According to the survey, Facebook is the most used social network, with 63% using it in the last month before the survey and 48% daily. Facebook is clearly ahead of YouTube, used by 35% of Internet users in the last month and 18% daily. Twitter is in third place with 21% and 9% respectively. Followed by Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Google+.

How to strengthen citizen engagement on social networks?

As the number of social network users continues to grow, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC) has asked itself under what conditions social networks can contribute to the revitalization of public life and civic engagement.

In theopinion it published at the beginning of the year, the EESC takes stock of the risks and biases now associated with social networks in the public debate:"confinement in echo chambers or bubbles that reduce the possibilities of debate, dissemination of false information and rumors, possibilities of manipulation of opinion, hate speech ..., which can weigh negatively on the commitment of citizens.

This observation, however, for the EESC, "does not invalidate the idea that social networks can be particularly effective tools for citizen engagement. But it is crucial to be aware that, like most tools, they have ambivalent or even contradictory characteristics and require responsible use.

At the end of its opinion, the EESC makes a series of recommendations:

  • Develop the training of Internet users in third places and revitalize digital public spaces
  • Generalize digital mediation functions in local public services
  • Create an aid fund for citizen initiatives with a "social networks" component
  • Create a platform for exchanges on the use of social networks
  • Create an award to promote citizen initiatives on social networks
  • Think about how to recognize engagement on social networks
  • Develop participatory approaches by promoting digital literacy among elected officials and civil servants
  • Work on the articulation between consultations via social networks and deliberative or collaborative bodies
  • Provide for the creation of a public petition platform
  • Develop teaching practices that integrate digital technology and the use of social networks
  • Systematically integrate these dimensions into professional training
  • Encourage media initiatives to decipher false information
  • Making platforms more accountable
  • Co-develop a signalling system to identify biased messages (artificial virality, hoax)
  • Ensure transparency on how display algorithms work
  • Implement a standardized, easily identifiable and usable reporting button
  • Protecting the anonymity and confidentiality of exchanges

More than half of French people exchange on social networks

In 2016, more than half of the population participated in social networks (56%, or two-thirds of Internet users alone), according to the latest Digital Barometer, conducted by Credoc, on behalf of ARCEP, the General Economic Council (CGE) and the Digital Agency.

This proportion has been growing steadily since 2009; it has more than doubled in less than six years. The use of social networks is very strongly linked to age, with 18-24 year olds being the most frequent users, with more than nine out of ten young people connected.

Between 2014 and 2016, the rate of participation in social networks increased significantly (+8 points in the general population). This average increase is rather accompanied by a resorption of inequalities, with the categories least connected to social networks experiencing the largest increases.

The participation of people with few qualifications (no qualifications and BEPC) increased by 9 points, as did that of people with low incomes. The same catching-up effect occurred according to the size of the urban area of residence: it is the inhabitants of rural municipalities (less than 2,000 inhabitants) and municipalities with 2,000 to 20,000 inhabitants who experienced the strongest growth (respectively +12 points and +15 points), while the rate stagnated in Paris and in the major regional metropolitan areas (+1 point).

The Social Life 2017 survey - annual barometer of social network usage in France, published at the end of March by Harris interactive, provides additional insight (based on an online survey of 2,000 people).

Three quarters of Internet users have used at least one social network in the last month.

More than half (57%) of Internet users are daily users of at least one social network.

According to the survey, Facebook is the most used social network, with 63% using it in the last month before the survey and 48% daily. Facebook is clearly ahead of YouTube, used by 35% of Internet users in the last month and 18% daily. Twitter is in third place with 21% and 9% respectively. Followed by Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Google+.

How to strengthen citizen engagement on social networks?

As the number of social network users continues to grow, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC) has asked itself under what conditions social networks can contribute to the revitalization of public life and civic engagement.

In theopinion it published at the beginning of the year, the EESC takes stock of the risks and biases now associated with social networks in the public debate:"confinement in echo chambers or bubbles that reduce the possibilities of debate, dissemination of false information and rumors, possibilities of manipulation of opinion, hate speech ..., which can weigh negatively on the commitment of citizens.

This observation, however, for the EESC, "does not invalidate the idea that social networks can be particularly effective tools for citizen engagement. But it is crucial to be aware that, like most tools, they have ambivalent or even contradictory characteristics and require responsible use.

At the end of its opinion, the EESC makes a series of recommendations:

  • Develop the training of Internet users in third places and revitalize digital public spaces
  • Generalize digital mediation functions in local public services
  • Create an aid fund for citizen initiatives with a "social networks" component
  • Create a platform for exchanges on the use of social networks
  • Create an award to promote citizen initiatives on social networks
  • Think about how to recognize engagement on social networks
  • Develop participatory approaches by promoting digital literacy among elected officials and civil servants
  • Work on the articulation between consultations via social networks and deliberative or collaborative bodies
  • Provide for the creation of a public petition platform
  • Develop teaching practices that integrate digital technology and the use of social networks
  • Systematically integrate these dimensions into professional training
  • Encourage media initiatives to decipher false information
  • Making platforms more accountable
  • Co-develop a signalling system to identify biased messages (artificial virality, hoax)
  • Ensure transparency on how display algorithms work
  • Implement a standardized, easily identifiable and usable reporting button
  • Protecting the anonymity and confidentiality of exchanges

Labo Société Numérique

Labo République Française Agence nationale de cohésion des territoires
More than half of French people exchange on social networks