Research by Ofcom highlights significant differences in online habits between men and women. It shows varying usage patterns on social media platforms and generative AI tools, and differing perceptions of online safety and benefits.
- Women spend significantly more time online than men, especially on platforms like Pinterest and Snapchat, while men dominate YouTube and LinkedIn usage.
- Despite spending more time online, women perceive less benefit from digital interactions and are more cautious about internet safety risks.
- Concerns about online content significantly vary between genders, with women more worried about issues like extremism and online harassment compared to men.
- Men are more likely to engage with generative AI and spend more time on online news sites and dating platforms than women.
The findings revealed by Ofcom indicate that women, on average, spend more time online compared to men, specifically 33 additional minutes per day in May 2024. This distinction is even more pronounced among Gen Z, where young women spend over an hour more online daily than young men. Social media usage reflects these differences, as women predominantly use platforms like Pinterest and Snapchat, whereas men spend more time on platforms like Reddit and YouTube.
Interestingly, although women engage more frequently with the digital realm, they are more cautious about the value of this engagement. They are less convinced than men about the overall benefits of the internet for personal and societal purposes and express greater concern for potential online harms. Women show more apprehension regarding issues like extremism and human trafficking, illustrating a heightened sensitivity to negative online content.
The report further breaks down age-specific concerns, noting that teenage girls show heightened worry about sexual or violent content online compared to boys of the same age. Boys, conversely, are more exposed to dangerous stunt-related content.
In terms of practical experiences online, men and women encounter different types of challenges and content. While men report more issues with misinformation and fraud, women face more on unwelcome interactions and body image content. These differences underscore a varied impact of digital spaces on different demographics.
The research also highlights how engagement with emerging technologies differs by gender. Men are more likely to experiment with new tools like generative AI, while women express less familiarity and comfort with such tools. There is a marked concern from women about the risks and societal impacts of AI technologies.
Visiting online news services shows notable differences in engagement levels, with men dedicating nearly 40% more time than women on these platforms. Similarly, when it comes to dating and adult content sites, men show a higher engagement rate, reinforcing the varied digital behaviors between genders.
Health and wellness websites have stronger appeal among women. Statistics show nearly two-thirds of NHS website visitors in May 2024 were women, highlighting the gendered approach to online health information. This trend extends to other health-related websites like WebMD and Fitbit, which see substantial female traffic.
This research exposes crucial behavioral differences in how genders engage with digital environments and reflect varying priorities and concerns.
