Do you remember the time when Twitter dominated online discussions with its viral tweets and active community? Today, this landscape has changed significantly. In France, a platform that was once a giant is losing its grip, while other players are making their way to the top of the popularity rankings. What caused this turnaround, and what implications does it have for the future of social networks? Let’s explore the details of this transformation together.
The 3 must-know facts
- The former Twitter, now called X, has seen its popularity decline in France, being overtaken by Dailymotion in the ranking of the most visited brands.
- In November, internet usage in France reached a historic record with 49.1 million French people connected.
- Threads, launched by Meta and associated with Instagram, positions itself as the main competitor to X with 150 million daily active users worldwide.
The decline of X in France
The former Twitter, now known as X, is experiencing a notable drop in its popularity in France. Changes in the platform’s operation, combined with the political stances of its owner Elon Musk, seem to have negatively impacted its audience. In November, X recorded its worst score since 2017, falling behind Dailymotion in the ranking of the most visited brands by Médiamétrie.
Once essential, X now finds itself at a level of traffic comparable to that of Reddit in France. This decline occurs in a context where many alternatives, such as Threads and Bluesky, are gaining popularity.
A historic record of internet usage in France
Paradoxically, while X is losing ground, internet usage in France is reaching new heights. In November, 49.1 million French people browsed the web, marking a historic record according to Médiamétrie. This represents 88% of the French population, with an increase in connection time of 11 minutes compared to the previous year.
These figures reflect a growing interest in digital technology, but also a diversification of the platforms used by French internet users.
Threads: a major competitor
In the wake of X’s declining popularity, Threads positions itself as a major competitor. Launched by Meta and linked to Instagram, Threads offers features similar to those of X, thus attracting a large number of users. In October, Threads reached 150 million daily active users worldwide, after already surpassing the 400 million monthly active users mark in August.
This rapid success highlights a trend towards integrated platforms, where users seek coherent and connected digital experiences.
Historical context: Twitter and its evolutions
Twitter, founded in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, quickly conquered the world as a microblogging platform. Over the years, it has undergone many changes, both in terms of its features and its leadership. In 2022, Elon Musk acquired the company, renaming it X, and introduced significant changes that elicited varied reactions from users.
Previously, Twitter had managed to establish a loyal user base thanks to its unique features such as hashtags and retweets. However, recent adjustments and increased competition from other social media platforms seem to have shaken its dominant position.