The French Love Affair with Online Information Systems: From the 1980’s to the Present Day

Abstract

The French have historically been pioneers when it comes to the dissemination of information via automated systems. They accepted and participated in rudimentary information transfer systems as early as the 1800’s. By the early 1980’s when the Minitel was coming into its own, France was the only country in the world whose people embraced the technology and as a result, the French culture became more accepting than most of online information access. This French point of view of was heavily influenced by the politics of the time that made access possible for a large number of people of varying social statuses and geographical locations. After a mere decade, the French were wholly accustomed to the DOS interface and slow connection afforded by the inexpensive yet somewhat unwieldy Minitel box. Despite their passion for online information, the French were slow to adopt the Internet even though it was booming in America in the late 1990’s. The French had become accustomed to their home-grown system and hesitated to invest themselves in a foreign system that required more expensive tools for access; indeed, the Internet was fundamentally less democratic and not geared, in its infancy at least, to French speakers. Currently, France has caught up in terms of Internet use and acceptance; it rivals American Internet usage accordingly. Notable differences between French and American habits remain that merit discussion and give insight into the uniquely French mindset concerning online information and the cultural influences that shape and impact its use.