Observatory of online platform audiences

Published on 08 November 2024

Social networking
Uses
Youngsters

Platform
Internet

Summary

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Arcom has set up an Observatoire des plateformes en ligne (online platform observatory) to gain a better understanding of the audience for very large platforms and search engines, and of platforms potentially subject to the Digital Services Regulation (DSR).

Context

The law aimed at securing and regulating the digital space(SREN) adapts the European Regulation on Digital Services(RSN) into national law, and formalizes Arcom's designation as the authority responsible for coordinating the regulation of French online platforms, alongside the French national data protectionagency (CNIL) and the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control(DGCCRF).

It is against this backdrop that Arcom has set up theObservatoire des plateformes en ligne, to develop a better understanding of the audience of VLOPSEs*(very large online platforms and search engines), and that of platforms potentially subject to the RSN established in France. This observatory will provide a better understanding of Internet users, both persons under 18 and over, and of their development, and will inform the actions of the regulation.

*Listof VLOPSEs available on the European Commission website. List to date: AliExpress, Amazon Store, App Store, Pornhub, Booking.com, Google Search, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Shopping, YouTube, Shein, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bing, XNXX, Pinterest, Snapchat, Stripchat, TikTok, X, Temu, XVideos, Wikipedia, Zalando.

Very large online platforms play a major role in French Internet usage

The first results of the Observatoire des plateformes en ligne highlight the major role played by VLOPSEs in French internet usage: in the first half of 2024, they will account for almost half of the time spent on the internet each month.

While Facebook and YouTube account for the largest number of visitors, Snapchat and TikTok capture the lion's share of time spent. Some Arcom-regulated marketplaces also boast high peak times, in particular LeBonCoin (27 million monthly single visiters).

Outside marketplaces, several French platforms boast high audience figures, notably Dailymotion (20 million monthly visitors).

Last but not least, usage by persons under 18 is very marked: 12-17 year-olds remain major consumers of Snapchat and TikTok, which account for a large proportion of their attention and the majority of time spent online. Pornographic sites are also very popular with persons under 18. Almost 40% of 12-17 year-olds visit adult sites in a given month, mainly VLOP Pornhub (one third of 12-17 year-old Internet users, a higher rate than for adults).