More Women Than Men Use Social Networks

In a not-too-surprising conclusion, a U.S. study of social media use found that women use social networks to connect with their friends, family and colleagues more than men. After all, at least in the hetero world, it’s women who do most of the keeping in touch work, from checking in with aging parents to arranging dinner dates with friends. This chart compares how the sexes use social networks:

But according to research company Rebtel CEO Andreas Bernstrom, this  “debunks other recent studies that suggest that men are more savvy networkers between the sexes.”

I think there is a distinction to be made here between being a “savvy networker” and actually communicating via social media. At the risk of stereotyping the genders once again, men tend to be more competitive than women. If 100 Facebook friends are good, then 300 is better, and snagging one of the first Google+ invites is better still. Meanwhile, women use the social networks for their intended purpose: communication.

Unfortunately, the software engineers behind the social networks continue to be mainly men. Thus we get a gillion new Facebook features, when the goal really should be making it easier for all of us - even the guys -  to talk to each other.

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