Firefox 失去了近 5000 万用户：令人担忧的原因
Firefox 火狐

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> 2018 年以来，Mozilla 的火狐浏览器正在大面积流失用户，为什么用户正在远离它？这是否值得担心？
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![](/data/attachment/album/202108/08/123732tnyiigh6ioywmgff.jpg)


Mozilla 的 Firefox 是基于 Chromium 内核的浏览器的唯一流行替代品。


它一直是 Linux 用户，以及每个平台上注重隐私的用户的默认选择。


然而，即便凭借着大量优势成为最好的 Web 浏览器之一，Firefox 近几年逐渐流失了它的影响力。


实话实说，我们都不需要借助统计数据来论证这一点，因为我们当中的许多人就已经转向其它 Chromium 内核的浏览器，或者 Chromium 本身，而不是 Firefox 和 Google Chrome。


不过，我在 Reddit 上偶然发现了由 [u/nixcraft](https://www.reddit.com/user/nixcraft/) 写的一篇帖子，这篇帖子强调了 Firefox 的用户数从 2018 年来不断下降的原因。


而令人惊讶的是，这篇帖子的原始信息来源就是 [Firefox 的公开数据报表](https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity)。


![](/data/attachment/album/202108/08/123732fcm5km292xu0xwct.png)


根据官方数据统计，在 2018 年底，其报告的（月度）活跃人数达到了 **2.44 亿**。


但，到了 **2021 年第二季度**，这个数字降到了 **1.98 亿**。


由此可以得出，Firefox 的用户基数下降了高达 **4600 万**。


### Firefox 的衰落确实令人担忧，但也很明显


鉴于在 2021 年以隐私为重点的工具在其用户群体中大量出现，Mozilla 的 Firefox 用户基数正面临着不断下降。


尤其是在 Firefox 设法引入一些业界首创的隐私功能之后。呵，是不是很讽刺？


如果你从来没有使用过 Firefox，或者已经迁移至其他浏览器许久，这篇 [关于 Brave 和 Firefox 浏览器的比较](https://itsfoss.com/brave-vs-firefox/) 表明，到目前为止，Firefox 其实还是一个可靠的浏览器。


所以，为什么许多用户迁移到了 Chromium 内核的浏览器，尤其是 Chrome 呢？


我这里马上就想到了这几点：


* Google Chrome 是 Android 设备上的默认浏览器
* Microsoft Edge 是 Windows 设备上的默认浏览器（因此自然就有巨大的市场份额）
* [Google.com](http://Google.com)（最大的搜索引擎）建议用户安装 Google Chrome（实际上是一种潜在的反竞争手段）
* 一些 Web 服务只兼容基于 Chromium 的浏览器


除此之外，Firefox 可能也做错了这几件事：


* 不断以大修的方式来破坏用户体验
* 近年来缺乏显著的性能改进


当然，没有哪个浏览器是完美的，但这是什么值得担心的事吗？嗯，我觉得是的。


### 为什么你应该担忧


Mozilla 的 Firefox 是基于 Chromium 的浏览器的唯一可行的竞争品。如果 Firefox 消失了，用户就会失去其它浏览器内核的选择。


我相信你会同意，纵容垄断是有害的，因此我们需要一些 Google Chromium 引擎的替代品。


实际上，相当多的网站会根据基于 Chromium 的浏览器来优化用户体验。


因此，如果用户量下降的趋势一直持续下去，**我们这样的用户可能就会被迫适应新的工作流程而改用其他浏览器**。


即使忽略掉 Google 的 Chromium 引擎在互联网的主导地位，或者认为 Chrome 之类的浏览器在技术上更好，Firefox 仍旧十分珍贵。因为它至少提供了更多的个性化功能，也不断改进隐私体验，与其他的都不一样。


换句话说，我们可能会（被迫）失去许多好的东西，而这一切仅仅是因为其他竞争对手都选择基于 Chromium 内核，或者从事反竞争活动。


也许，你现在对 Firefox 很失望而想转向其他浏览器。当然，这是你自己的选择。


**但是，待到 Firefox 因为各种使其衰落的因素而彻底消失后，你又该何去何从呢？**


![](/data/attachment/album/202108/08/123733s4tmtgtp9zqd09zc.jpg)


因此，为了让一切保持平衡，我认为我们应该不断反抗科技巨头的反竞争行为，并且开始使用 Mozilla Firefox（不论是什么身份，甚至是作为备用浏览器）。


当然，Mozilla 也需要面对这种情况做出什么措施了。


当他们忙于添加隐私网络服务、邮件中继和其他服务集成时，Mozilla 在用户体验改善方面做的并不成功。


至少，我是这么认为的。多年来，我一直使用 Firefox 作为主力浏览器，但我最终还是会偶尔转向其他浏览器，尤其是每次 Firefox 界面进行大幅度更改后。


### 你怎么看？


我很想知道你对此有何想法，以及你认为究竟是什么因素导致了 Firefox 用户数的下降。


你更喜欢将哪款浏览器作为你的主力浏览器？在评论区中告诉我吧！




---


via: <https://news.itsfoss.com/firefox-decline/>


作者：[Ankush Das](https://news.itsfoss.com/author/ankush/) 选题：[lujun9972](https://github.com/lujun9972) 译者：[imgradeone](https://github.com/imgradeone) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
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Mozilla’s Firefox is the only popular alternative to Chromium-based browsers.

It has been the default choice for Linux users and privacy-conscious users across every platform.

However, even with all benefits as one of the best web browsers around, it is losing its grip for the past few years.

To be honest, we do not even need a stat to say that, many of us have switched over to Chromium-based browsers or Chromium itself instead of Firefox or Google Chrome.

However, I came across a Reddit thread by [u/nixcraft](https://www.reddit.com/user/nixcraft/?ref=news.itsfoss.com), which highlighted more details on the decline in the userbase of Firefox since 2018.

And surprisingly, the original source for this information is [Firefox’s Public Data Report](https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity?ref=news.itsfoss.com).

![](https://news.itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2021/08/firefox-userbase-decline.png)

As per the official stats, the reported number of active (monthly) users was about **244 million** at the end of 2018.

And, it seems to have declined to **198 million** at the end of **Q2 2021**.

So, that makes it a whopping ~**46 million** decline in the userbase.

## Firefox’s Decline is Concerning But Obvious

Considering 2021 is the year when privacy-focused tools saw a big boost in their userbase, Mozilla’s Firefox is looking at a constant decline.

Especially when Firefox manages to introduce some industry-first privacy practices. Quite the irony, eh?

In case you have never used Firefox or have moved away for a long time, a [comparison between Brave and Firefox](https://itsfoss.com/brave-vs-firefox/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) highlights that it is still a solid web browser choice to date.

So, why are users moving away to Chromium-based web browsers or Chrome in particular?

There are a few things that I can think of right off the bat:

- Google Chrome being the default web browser on Android
- Microsoft Edge as the default web browser for Windows (which naturally has a huge marketshare)
- Google.com (the biggest search engine) recommending users to install Google Chrome (which is potentially an anti-competitive behaviour)
- Some web services are exclusive to Chrome-based browsers

In addition to that, there are also a few things that Firefox may have done wrong:

- Constantly breaking the user experience with major overhauls
- Lack of significant performance improvements in the recent years

Of course, no web browser is perfect but is this something to worry about? Well, I think, yes.

## Here’s Why You Should be Worried

Mozilla’s Firefox is the only viable competitor to Chromium-based browsers. If Firefox disappears, users won’t have a choice to select a different browser engine.

I’m sure you will agree that monopoly is bad; hence, we need something to survive as an alternative to Google’s chrome engine.

In fact, a significant number of websites optimize the user experience by keeping chrome-based browsers in mind.

So, eventually, if the declining trend continues, **users like us may just be forced to switch to other browsers by adapting to new workflows**.

Even if we ignore the dominant control of Google’s chrome engine on the web by arguing that it is technically better, Firefox is still something precious. Because it provides way more customizations and constantly improves its privacy practices unlike any other.

In other words, we will be losing out on a lot of good things (forcefully) just because all the competition prefers using Chromium as its base or engage in anti-competitive activities.

Maybe, you’re frustrated with Firefox now and move away to something else. That’s completely your choice.

**But, how would you feel if you won’t have an alternative when Firefox ceases to exist because of all the factors affecting its decline?**

![](https://news.itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2021/08/firefox-survive.jpg)

Hence, to keep things balanced, I think we should constantly oppose the anti-competitive behavior by tech giants and start using Mozilla Firefox (in whatever capacity, even as a secondary browser).

Of course, Mozilla needs to give this situation some serious attention as well.

While they are busy introducing VPN services, email relays, and other service integrations, they are not succeeding with the user experience improvements.

At least, that is what I think. I’ve used Firefox as my primary browser for years now but I end up switching to other browsers once in a while, especially, after every major UI overhaul.

## What Do You Think?

I’d love to know what you think about this and what seems to be affecting Firefox’s decline in the userbase.

What do you prefer to use as your primary web browser? Let me know all of it in the comments down below!

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