Orange reveals the results of the second edition of the Observatory of digital uses entrusted to Opinion Way

An observatory on an unprecedented scale

This survey, entrusted to Opinion Way, is the biggest of its kind, with over 11,800 respondents in nine  countries across the globe. In all the countries covered by the study, most users of digital technology say they are now unable to live without their smartphone (60 % on average). Conversely, social networks seem to be increasingly irrelevant: 75 % of French and Spanish digital users could do without them and 82 % of Americans say the same thing.

This year, Orange chose to focus on topics at the heart of concerns related to this profound transformation: trust, dependency and disconnection, e-inclusion, citizenship and environmental impacts.

1.    Digital technology has become part of daily life in all the countries that participated in the study. The study clearly shows that digital tools have become a necessity with an average of 67 % of people asked saying they can no longer live without internet and an average of 61 % of people saying they cannot live without their smartphone.

2.    This form of maturity can be seen in a heightened understanding of the risks: almost one person in two does not trust social networks. However, it is noted that digital technology provides its users with so many advantages that they overcome these fears.

3.    Intensive use of digital technology is creating a growing need to disconnect, even occasionally: over 8 out of 10 people need to disconnect. Paradoxically, people have a hard time putting this aspiration into practice. 

4.    In the future, digital technology could continue to develop, by offering ever more personalised services (especially in the healthcare, education and financial services sectors) and also by making it easier to access and understand for everyone.

5.    Digital pollution issues raise the question of the programmed obsolescence of digital devices. Users, especially those in France (29 %), say they are now completely willing to replace their devices less often. In Western countries, recycling is a well-established practice: one in every three users say they recycle.

6.    Finally, digital inclusion is seen as important by most of the people surveyed: it should even be a national priority according to 72 % of French digital users and 87 % of Spanish users.

1/  Nine countries: South Korea, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Spain, US, France, Morocco, UK, Senegal

Users are increasingly aware of the potential risks: hyper connection, sense of insecurity regarding personal data, social isolation.

Created in March 2000, pioneering the digitalization of studies, OpinionWay is a major player in innovation in marketing and opinion research. His vocation is to make the world intelligible to act today and imagine tomorrow. The company is involved in many areas such as market understanding, brand issues, product and service development, etc. to BtoB or BtoC targets for high profile customers. OpinionWay is an active member of Esomar and has been developing a CSR policy since 2007. It has been ISO 20252 certified since 2009 by AFNOR and is a member of CroissancePlus.