In his twenties, Firefox's fur is no longer very shiny. While in 2009, at the height of its popularity, the software was adopted by nearly a third of Internet users, its user base has now completely melted. With a market share, in 2023, all devices combined, of 2.65% (compared to 66.7% for Google Chrome), it is only the fourth browser in the hearts of Internet users.
This disenchantment, as well as two waves of layoffs in February and November in different sectors of the Mozilla foundation, including that which manages the development of Firefox, Mozilla Corporation, even raise the possibility of extinction. A situation which contrasts with the determination of its users, many of whom have testified to the Mondewho know exactly why they continue to use it.
It must be said that Firefox was very famous in its early days. The browser emerged on November 9, 2004 from the ashes of Netscape, from which it borrowed part of the code base. Considered fast and secure, it democratizes a number of features and sets the benchmark for modern browsers.
All roads lead to Chrome
“It was free software, fast, with tabs, when it was an innovation, and a host of extensions”remembers Maël, 43, digital project manager. The native pop-up blocker – these windows that appear by themselves and which certain sites abuse for advertising purposes – is also a strong argument of the software compared to its main competitor, Internet Explorer, then in a position of almost monopoly but mocked for its slowness and lack of security.
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But Firefox, in turn, is starting to be considered outdated, outdated notably by a new actor, who appeared in 2008 and whose rise seems irresistible. “I discovered Google Chrome when I was a teenager. It was a much faster browser than the others and I let myself be tempted”says Marie, 24 years old. In response, Mozilla is carrying out a major technical renovation in 2017, which puts its browser on an equal footing with its competitors in terms of performance. The effort is nevertheless insufficient to stem the erosion of its user base.
On mobiles, which today represent nearly two-thirds of global Internet traffic, the browser is also unable to establish itself. Disadvantaged by the omnipresence of Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS, it never exceeds the usage percentage. “Since March, European legislation has forced a number of phones to ask you which browser you want to install at the time of purchasenevertheless nuance Sylvestre Ledru, director of engineering at Mozilla. Since then, on iOS, we have seen a 25% increase in users and a 51% increase in daily active users. »
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