In 2024, the French are facing the consequences of the digital revolution, which is profoundly changing their access to information. These upheavals challenge the functioning and even the survival of traditional media and trigger a continuous flow of news from an infinite number of sources with varying levels of reliability. How are our fellow citizens adapting to this new situation? Are their behaviors likely to lead to a positive renewal of responsible information, or, on the contrary, encourage numerous French or foreign actors specialized in manipulation operations fueled by falsehoods and toxic propaganda?
To shed light on this, the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Arcom) conducted a significant opinion study of a sample of 3,356 individuals. At first glance, the responses of those surveyed are positive. 94% of them express interest in information. Their interest primarily focuses on health and the environment, rather than politics. 44% seek information to understand the world around them, and 38% to form their own opinions.
Users also express concern about receiving quality information that can ward off threats to its independence. According to them, these threats come from two categories. On one hand, various political, economic, and financial powers; on the other hand, the pitfalls of technology, of which they are very aware, such as the infiltration of social networks by misinformation actors and the increasing role of artificial intelligence, which significantly facilitates the falsification of sound and images.
Despite their good intentions, users exhibit ambiguous behaviors towards an extensive and uncontrolled information landscape. They are indeed aware of the pitfalls of social media. 92% acknowledge that these platforms provide both true and false information. 55% admit that these networks disseminate a lot of inaccurate information, and 50% that they steal their personal data. Many, around 60%, show a certain weariness towards repetitive or distressing information, a reaction seen in most European countries.
Nevertheless, this does not prevent them from largely seeking information on the web, using search engines like Google or audiovisual platforms like YouTube or TikTok, which are more popular than traditional media sites. 53% of users, especially those under 35, do so, while only 34% consult a newspaper or magazine. A significant minority, 42%, believes that one can be interested in information without knowing if it is true or false. Overall, many believe that Internet services provide information that is not found elsewhere and offer formats more tailored to their needs than traditional media.
