Female Web Surfers Grow Faster Than Overall Internet Population.

The Internet ratings report for the month of December 2001 from Nielsen//NetRatings, a leading Internet audience measurement service, revealed that the number of female Internet users at home grew at a faster clip than the overall Internet population, jumping nine percent in December 2001 from a year ago. The total Internet population grew at a rate of six percent year-over-year.

Females accounted for 52 percent or 55.0 million Internet users at home. Males comprised the remaining 48 percent of the total surfing population, rising three percent from 48.2 million to 49.8 million surfers.

Men Surf the Internet More than Women

Web usage by male surfers at home exceeded the usage patterns of females, as males spent more time on the Internet and accessed more content than their female counterparts.

In December, males spent 24 percent more time online at home than women, averaging 11 hours, rising 17 percent from a year ago. By comparison, females spent 9 hours online, posting an 18 percent increase. Men logged onto the Internet 24 percent more times than women, averaging 21 sessions during the month, posting a 17 percent increase. Female surfers accessed the Internet 17 times this past December, rising 13 percent from the year prior. Male surfers also viewed 40 percent more pages than women. On average, men viewed 801 pages, while women viewed 573.

“Men spent more time online, logged on more often, and accessed more content than women, despite being out-numbered by the female Internet population by more than 5.2 million surfers,” said Dawn Brozek, senior Internet analyst, NetRatings.

“Generally speaking, women shoulder a majority of the household responsibilities and therefore, face a `time poverty’ at home, with less leisure time than men to spend on activities such as surfing the Internet.”