A reference study led by Arcep, the CGE, and the ANCT's Digital Society Program
This 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 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.
Références :
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.Digital Barometer 2021: the main results
A reference study led by Arcep, the CGE, and the ANCT's Digital Society Program
This 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 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.
Références :
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.Labo Société Numérique