edited the heading of the question. I think most of us here are reasoning why more people are not using firefox (because it was the initial question), but none of that explains why it's actively losing marketshare.
I don't agree ideologically with Firefox management and am somewhat of a semi-conservative (and my previous posts might testify to that), I think Firefox browser is absolutely amazing! It's beautiful and it just feels good. It has awesome features like containers. It's better for privacy than any mainstream browser out there (even counting Brave here) and it has great integration between PC and Phone. It's open-source (unlike Chrome) and it supports a good chunk of extensions you would need.
This was about PC, but I believe even for Mobiles it looks great and it allows features like extensions (and I hear desktop extensions are coming to firefox android?), it's just a great ecosystem and it's available everywhere unlike most FOSS softwares.
So why is Firefox's market share dying?
I mean, I have a few ideas why it might be, maybe correct me I guess?
- Most people don't know how to use extensions well and how to use Firefox well. (Most of my friends in their 30's still live without ad blockers, so I don't think many are educated here)
- It's just not as fast as Chrome or Brave. I can't deny this, but despite of this, I find it's worthy.
- It's not the default.
- Many features which are Google specific aren't supported.
- Many websites are just not supporting firefox anymore (looking at you snapchat), but you would be right in saying this is the effect of Firefox losing it's market share not the cause (at least for now) and you would be right.
But what else?
I might take time (a lot of it) to get back at you, thanks for understanding.
occasionally I’ll find websites that don’t work 100% because they were coded primarily for chromium based browsers. FU Google
"Most people" probably can't name the browser they use. They just open "the internet" on whatever device they're on.
Then why isn't Edge more popular?
This isn't the early 2000s anymore; people know how to download a browser.
Most don't. Edge is increasingly becoming more popular as consumers switch to Windows 11.
The only non-techies I know that use Chrome are those I have installed Chrome for.
Most people who "just use the computer" these days DO use edge, in my experience.
All the older non tech people I interact with use phones and iPads almost exclusively. They boot up PCs (iMacs too) from 10 years ago once a year during tax time.
So many times I see screenshots shared by my non-IT friends of websites and it's full of ads. Trying to get them to install an adblocker is a real challenge. Some of these people are actual engineers too, so fairly smart people otherwise. The "internet" is whatever browser is on their PC that works.
Also, a lot of people are using absolute potato PCs where the performance difference between Edge/Chrome and anything else used to be noticeable for years.
Let me introduce you to ... "The Internet Icon"
I’ve seen it plenty of times that they use chrome AND edge. Simply because some things open in edge by default and they don’t know how to, or aren’t bothered to switch it.
lol you would be surprised
i feel like edge is thought to be internet explorer so the non tech people are like im gonna be a tech guy and get chrome.
Most does use it. It just come with some weird quirks, like my cousin's Edge wiped itself clean after a Windows update, and I guided him towards FF
Edge is pretty popular. Here's the stats for 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers#/media/File:StatCounter-browser-ww-monthly-202011-202011-bar.png
Ugh, sadly I feel like this is the most accurate answer. So many people don't apply critical thinking to their device and don't even understand they are using a browser to access the web.
Yeah, but ya know, people shouldn't be required to "apply critical thinking" to what is effectively a passthrough device for them. Do you consider the choice of lubricant used for the serpentine belt in your car? Car dudes would say "ugh people should apply more critical thinking to their car"
Technology should be reasonable and functional, even if you're not invested in the details