In 2024, the Internet has established itself as an essential pillar of the daily lives of the French. With 94% of connected households, compared to 82% ten years ago, the growth is dazzling. But beyond the figures, it is the usage that is changing: the French now spend an average of 2 hours and 40 minutes per day online, or 34 minutes more than in 2019. This growth can be explained as much by the diversity of uses as by increasingly mobile access.
The smartphone, master of the digital game
More than a simple communication tool, the smartphone has become the main screen for online browsing. According to a Médiamétrie study published in early 2025, 80% of time spent on the Internet is now on mobile, and 94% of these connections are made via applications.
On average, a French person consults their smartphone 20 times a day, with each session lasting around 11 minutes. This trend is even more marked among 15-24 year-olds, who spend 4 hours and 21 minutes online daily, spread over 24 sessions on average. This hyperconnection is redefining the way information is consumed: more instantaneous, more fragmented, and often more superficial.
News and sports, audience drivers
The year 2024 was marked by spectacular audience peaks, particularly during the Paris Olympic Games. In August, 31.3 million Internet users visited sports media sites and applications, with a record of 12.6 million visitors on August 2, the day of French victories in swimming and BMX.
Political events were not left out: 23.7 million visitors flocked to news platforms on June 30, the day of the first round of the legislative elections. Proof that online information remains a strong reflex, although practices vary according to the generations.
15-24 year-olds devote 60% of their time online to social networks, while 50-64 year-olds spend an average of 50 minutes per day, favoring more traditional news sites.
The explosion of digital entertainment
The craze for streaming and online gaming continues to grow. Every month, 52.5 million French people watch videos online, and 26 million do so daily. SVoD services and TV replays attract one in two French people, consolidating their place in the digital landscape.
Online gaming is not left behind: 68% of French people say they play at least once a month, an increase of 18% since 2019. A phenomenon that illustrates the rise of interactive and immersive experiences, now at the heart of digital leisure.
E-commerce in full transformation
Online commerce is reaching new heights. In 2024, mass distribution platforms brought together 37.3 million unique monthly visitors, an increase of 28% in five years. At the same time, sites specializing in second-hand and discount sales are attracting a young audience: 28% of their traffic comes from 15-34 year-olds.
In total, pure e-commerce players have 44.2 million monthly visitors, up 11% since 2019. This trend illustrates a shift towards more reasoned and economical purchasing, reinforced by the success of resale platforms and flash promotions.
Conversational AI, a new player in digital technology
The latest major upheaval: conversational artificial intelligence. By the end of 2024, 20% of French people – or 12.2 million users – were already using these tools, with particularly strong adoption among 15-24 year-olds (54% of monthly users).
AI is no longer just assisting, it is redefining the digital experience: information search, task automation, content personalization, etc. A trend that is set to strengthen, with major impacts on digital habits and the business models of technology companies.
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