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December 30, 2005
pew internet report on gender differences in internet use
The Pew Internet & American Life Project has just released a new report entitled How Women and Men Use the Internet. The short description: "Women are catching up to men in most measures of online life. Men like the internet for the experiences it offers, while women like it for the human connections it promotes."
Their findings didn't surprise me much, but it was nice to see some solid research backing beliefs I've had there were primary based on anecdotal evidence.
Pew is careful to put a caveat in the summary to those who might be too quick to focus on the differences, saying "our data show that men and women are more similar than different in their online lives, starting with their common appreciation of the internet’s strongest suit: efficiency."
It definitely looks to me like it's worth reading the whole thing--I'm printing out the 55-page PDF now to carry home for the weekend.
Posted by Liz Lawley at 03:45 PM in Research | Permalink
Comments
do you really think it's worth wasting 55 pieces of paper for this crap so's you can feel good that it confirms your (well educated, yes, we know) hunch "there were primary based on anecdotal evidence"?
this paper says: NOTHING. Email Is For Everyone heh.
is there a chapter on how (misbehaving)women erase real comments they find challenging or offensive but can't seem to get around the comment spam problem? you know, as compared to men and shit. oh, and yeah, those are cute shoes!
c'mon, go back to fawning over billy gates.
solid research oh, please. leave it out.
you're talking an awful lot
but you're not saying anything.
these our experts. gods help us.
i heart the internets because it lets everyone see just how full of bs most "academics" are. just this side of carny, folks.
viagra.
Posted by: madame l. at Dec 31, 2005 5:21:38 AM
There was a piece on this report on BBC News Online a few days ago, Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4555370.stm
What made me extremely uncomfortable in terms of bias and attitude of the researchers was the quote:
"We may soon look back on it as a charming, even quaint moment, when
men reached for the farthest corners of the internet, trying and
experimenting with whatever came along, and when women held the
internet closer and tried to keep it a bit more under control."
Errr.... yes, and I personally make sure that my hunting husband gets his tea on the table every night whilst I've been close to home foraging!
Posted by: Cait at Jan 2, 2006 2:47:34 PM
It's like that even in real life. Men for fun and experience, women for to stay in-touch and beautification! :)
Posted by: cart at Jan 12, 2006 1:03:27 AM
And i thought that the men use interenet only for porn :)
Posted by: Nina at Jan 23, 2006 3:30:04 PM
