The web of 2024 no longer resembles what it was two years ago. The tools used to build websites, measure their performance, or target visitors have changed their logic. Several technical and regulatory evolutions are reshaping how professionals design their online services and how users navigate daily.
INP replaces FID: what the new Core Web Vital from Google changes
Have you ever clicked a website button and nothing happened for one or two seconds? This annoying delay is now being measured more precisely by Google.
In March 2024, Google officially replaced the First Input Delay (FID) with the Interaction to Next Paint (INP) in its Core Web Vitals. While FID only measured the first click, INP evaluates the page’s responsiveness after each interaction: click, keyboard input, dropdown menu press.
In practical terms, technical teams must track long JavaScript tasks that block rendering. A site can load quickly while responding slowly to user actions. It is precisely this gap that INP captures. The resources published on web-internet.fr detail this type of evolution for professionals following the changes in the web.
A good INP score directly affects ranking in search results. Developers who only optimized initial loading time must rethink their approach: break down heavy scripts, defer non-urgent processing, reduce display delays after each user action.
Third-party cookies in Chrome: why the timeline derailed
For years, the anticipated disappearance of third-party cookies in Chrome has shaped marketing strategies. Advertisers were preparing for a world without traditional tracking. Then Google changed course.
In July 2024, Google abandoned its fixed timeline for phasing out third-party cookies. Instead, the browser will offer a user choice, rather than a uniform and imposed removal. This turnaround forces professionals to combine several simultaneous approaches:
- Collecting first-party data directly from visitors through accounts or forms, in compliance with GDPR
- Contextual targeting, which analyzes the content of the visited page to display relevant ads without tracking the individual
- Explicit consent mechanisms, adapted to European requirements and different browsers
This regulatory and technical ambiguity complicates the work of marketing teams. Preparing for the end of third-party cookies remains relevant, but the timeline is no longer predictable.
European AI Act: concrete obligations for websites
The European regulation on artificial intelligence (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 12, 2024. This text does not only concern research laboratories. Any web product incorporating AI is potentially affected.
The application is gradual. Some prohibitions began to apply in February 2025, while the general rules will be phased in until 2026. Three obligations are emerging for website and application publishers:
- Transparency of AI-generated content: a text, image, or automatically produced summary must be identified as such
- Technical documentation of systems classified as high-risk, particularly affecting recruitment or online scoring tools
- Internal governance, with control procedures adapted to the risk level of the system
For an e-commerce site using a chatbot or recommendation engine, this means checking if the system falls into a high-risk category, documenting its operation, and clearly informing users.
Web accessibility and WCAG 2.2: a constraint turned technical lever
Digital accessibility is no longer a topic reserved for public institutions. The WCAG 2.2 guidelines, published at the end of 2023, introduce criteria that change the design of interfaces for all users.
Among the new features, increasing the minimum size of clickable areas facilitates mobile navigation for everyone, not just for people with disabilities. Contextual help criteria in forms also reduce cart or sign-up abandonment.
Making a site accessible improves its overall performance. A button that is too small or a form without clear instructions penalizes both user experience and ranking in search results.
In France, the General Accessibility Improvement Reference (RGAA) transposes these requirements. Companies with revenue exceeding a certain threshold are already subject to compliance obligations.
Mobile usage and time spent online in France: current trends
The dominance of mobile has direct consequences on web design: a site designed first for computers and then adapted for mobile is no longer sufficient. The reverse approach, known as mobile-first, has become the de facto standard. Almost all the time spent on smartphones is dedicated to applications, prompting site publishers to rethink the fluidity of their mobile interfaces.
Social networks remain audience hubs, but online media still hold a significant place in daily usage. For web professionals, this means that distributing content across multiple channels remains more reliable than relying on a single platform.
The digital landscape of 2024 demands continuous technical monitoring. Between Google’s new performance criteria, a tightening European regulatory framework on AI and cookies, and more demanding accessibility standards, every technical choice has repercussions on SEO, legal compliance, and user retention.
