6. Consumerism and new technologies

6.1 The rapid impact of new technologies on consumerism

New information and communication technologies (NICTs), whether the Internet or mobile telephony, in particular Smartphones and Smartphone applications, have revolutionized the field of communication between companies, institutions and citizens or consumers.

The Internet arrived in France in 1992, and the first public sites were available in 1993, marking the beginning of the fast-growing consumer Internet. The Smartphone market really took off in 2007, following the launch of the Apple iPhone and the development of high-speed Internet connections.

Unsurprisingly, NICTs have also changed the way consumer organizations in Europe publish test results, which have generally been available...