The Internet has become the backbone of modern life. It powers everything from personal communication to global commerce. Cloudflare’s 2024 Year in Review report offers a closer look at how the Internet evolved this year.
Internet traffic surged by 17% compared to 2023. This growth highlights how deeply interconnected our daily activities have become.
Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, noted how often people take connectivity for granted. “The Internet is everywhere,” he said. It affects how we work, socialize, shop, and even clean our homes.
While this connectivity fosters innovation, it also creates vulnerabilities. Governments, cybercriminals, and technological advances contributed to disruptions and challenges in 2024.
One of the most concerning trends this year was the rise in government-directed Internet shutdowns. These accounted for over half of all global outages.
Governments often justified these shutdowns as measures against protests, civil unrest, or exam-related cheating.
Countries like Mozambique, Iraq, and Syria experienced significant disruptions. Pakistan and Bangladesh also faced government-enforced Internet blackouts.
These shutdowns affected millions, showing how authorities use the Internet as both a tool and a weapon.
These shutdowns affect individuals, disrupt economies, and suppress free speech. For many, losing access to the Internet also means losing access to essential services.
Cyberattacks also surged in 2024, with a shift in focus to new industries. This year, the gaming and Gambling industry became the most targeted sector, overtaking the Finance sector, which held the top spot in 2023.
Cybercriminals launched attacks around high-profile events like the Super Bowl. This period saw increased phishing schemes, ransomware, and DDoS attacks.
Cloudflare also revealed that malicious traffic accounted for 6.5% of global Internet activity. Although this figure showed only a slight rise from last year, it underscores the ongoing efforts needed to mitigate cyber threats.
Generative AI gained significant traction in 2024, both in consumer and professional spaces. OpenAI remained the most popular service for the second year running, and new entrants like Codeium, Claude, and CoPilot also climbed into the top ranks.
These tools revolutionize workflows in programming, content creation, and customer support. However, they also raise questions about data privacy and intellectual property.
The rapid growth of AI services highlights both opportunities and challenges in the tech landscape.
Popular Internet services saw few changes at the top. Google retained its position as the most visited site globally. Facebook, Apple, and TikTok followed closely behind.
WhatsApp debuted in the top 10, marking a shift in communication trends.
The gaming industry continued to dominate digital entertainment. Roblox ranked as the most popular gaming platform for the fourth consecutive year. Steam broke into the top five, reflecting its growing appeal to a global audience.
Minecraft also entered the top 10, showing its enduring popularity.
AI bots and crawlers made headlines this year for their aggressive content consumption. Bytespider (ByteDance) and ClaudeBot (Anthropic) were particularly active.
Despite their initial rise, their traffic declined later in the year.
Regulatory pressures and ethical concerns likely contributed to this decrease. AI bots play a crucial role in indexing and analyzing online content.
However, their rapid growth has sparked debates about their impact on web ecosystems.
Cloudflare’s network remains one of the largest in the world. Its insights provide a comprehensive view of Internet usage and security trends. These findings help shape strategies to create a safer, more reliable digital landscape.
The Internet has never been more integral to global life. It connects people, drives innovation, and supports economies. However, it also faces increasing challenges, from malicious actors to government interference.
Cloudflare’s report highlights the need for vigilance and collaboration. As dependency on the Internet grows, so do the stakes. Ensuring its security and accessibility remains a global priority.
This year’s findings show a clear trajectory. More people and devices connect to the Internet daily, offering tremendous opportunities but demanding heightened awareness and preparation.
The full report is available in multiple languages, including Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, and Dutch.
Cloudflare’s commitment to a better Internet remains unwavering. As 2025 approaches, the company continues to lead efforts to keep the digital world resilient and secure.