Resumen de Native language and Internet usage

Neil Gandal

• This article explores the relationship between native language and use of the Internet. I study this issue empirically using a unique data set on Internet use at the individual level in Quebec. The results suggest that most Quebecois are using the web intensively in English. Furthermore, the difference between native French and native English speakers in the use of the Internet in English is relatively small for the younger generation. To the extent that the younger generation drives the dynamics of the Internet, the results provide support for the hypothesis that English will retain its first mover advantage of a large installed base of English language websites.