The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in adolescent Internet access, reasons for use, and online activities in Taiwan. A survey was conducted with 629 participants from fifth and sixth grades. Previous research has consistently found that males typically have a positive attitude towards using the Internet, whereas females commonly express negative views about computers and the Internet (Durndell & Haag, 2002; Kadijevich, 2000; Whitely, 1997). As a result, computers and the Internet are often perceived as being primarily associated with males. Two factors may help explain this trend.
Both the ability to master computers and the Internet and the content available on the Internet contribute to the disparity in internet usage between males and females. Males have more opportunities to use technological products such as the Internet, resulting in greater frequency and duration of internet usage compared to females. Research by Clemente (1998), Kraut et al. (1998), and Bruce (1988) supports this observation. Additionally, Clemente notes that in the mid-1990s, the Internet lacked content that specifically targeted females, which may have further discouraged their usage.
According to researchers (Schumacher & Morahan-Martin, 2001), women’s internet usage and perceived importance of the internet are lower than men’s due to a lack of content meeting their needs. However, these researchers argue that as women gain more experience and relevant content becomes available, the gender gap in internet usage decreases. In a study by Hunley et al. (2005), it was found that both males and females spend similar amounts of time on the computer. Furthermore, some studies indicate that searching for information and playing games are the most popular online activities among adolescents.
Research conducted by Hunley et al. (2005) revealed that girls primarily utilize the computer for completing homework assignments. According to a survey carried out by eMarketer (2005), game playing (42.6%) and searching for information related to homework (23.1%) were the most popular online activities among adolescents aged 6 to 11. However, another study found that boys (28.9%) showed a greater inclination towards playing games compared to girls (11.1%). Tsai and Lin’s findings from 2004 indicated that males generally perceive the Internet as a “toy,” while females view it as a tool or technology for accomplishing tasks.
According to a study conducted by Hoffman, Kalsbeek and Novak (1996), there are differences in preferences and priorities between females and males when it comes to using the internet. The study findings indicate that females may have a more practical approach, while males prioritize enjoyment. These gender differences could be attributed to a greater emphasis on socializing. The study surveyed internet users in the United States who were over 15 years old and observed that females tended to use email more frequently, while males preferred downloading software. This suggests that female adolescents might utilize email as a means of satisfying their need for social interaction with friends.
Regarding the reason why males tend to download software more frequently, this behavior may be attributed to online games. It is possible that online games, particularly those available on children’s websites, necessitate the downloading of software. Given that male adolescents typically devote more time to playing online games, it is plausible that this results in them spending more time downloading various materials. Additionally, it should be noted that girls tend to browse for information on idols more frequently (Valkenburg & Soeters, 2001). Notably, gender differences are evident in terms of the categories of weekly online time and the locations where individuals access the Internet.
The data demonstrates that the majority of subjects spent either less than an hour online per week (boys: 39.5%; girls: 47.5%) or between 1 and 5 hours (boys: 41.2%; girls: 38.7%). A higher percentage of boys (10.7%) reported spending over 10 hours surfing the Internet weekly compared to girls (5.0%), suggesting that boys tend to spend more time on the Internet than girls. Moreover, it is apparent that girls primarily access the Internet at home and school, while boys visit Internet cafes more frequently. In general, these findings indicate that both genders have equal internet access at home.
Both males and females had comparable experiences and opportunities in utilizing the internet, suggesting a reduction in the gender disparity. Nonetheless, disparities existed in terms of online time spent and internet access based on location. Girls primarily went online to gather information, socialize, and alleviate boredom. Boys also emphasized information search but attached equal significance to socializing and boredom avoidance.
Both boys and girls engage in similar online activities, including searching for homework information, playing games, and using e-mail. However, there are gender differences in these activities. Girls tend to spend more time searching for homework information compared to boys, while boys claim to dedicate more time to playing games. The survey also revealed that girls allocate a higher percentage of their time to using e-mail than boys do. Conversely, boys spend almost twice as much time downloading software as girls do. Interestingly, girls demonstrate a tendency to visit websites dedicated to their idols more frequently than boys.
The objective of this study was to examine gender differences in teenage Internet usage in Taiwan, particularly regarding accessibility, motives, and online activities. The results indicate that the gap between genders in Internet usage has decreased among today’s generation. Both boys and girls now have equal access to and familiarity with the Internet. For adolescents, the main reasons for using the Internet were seeking information, socializing, and alleviating boredom for both genders.
Despite ongoing gender differences, certain online activities are popular among adolescents. Searching for homework information and playing games are the top activities for all adolescents. Girls mainly use the Internet to search for information and email friends, while boys prefer using it for entertainment purposes like playing games and downloading software. However, these findings also raise concerns as the study shows that today’s adolescents use the Internet daily.
The Internet’s increased usage has unfortunately resulted in more adolescents being exposed to harassment and pornography. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (2002), this frequent use of the Internet has led to a greater number of teenagers experiencing harassment. Research conducted by Cameron et al. (2005) and Valkenburg & Soeters (2001) also indicates that adolescents are being exposed to pornography. Finkelhor, Mitchell, and Wolak (2000) discovered that a significant percentage of young people have encountered unwanted sexual material, solicitation, and harassment while using the Internet. Additionally, Finkelhor et al. (2000) found that some adolescents engage in risky online behavior such as having sexual conversations, seeking explicit sites, sharing personal pictures or bullying other users.
The growing number of teenagers accessing the Internet emphasizes the need for appropriate guidance (Dorman, 1997). Previous studies have mainly focused on parental mediation in relation to television, leaving a knowledge gap regarding how parents mediate their adolescents’ internet usage (Atkin, Greenberg, & Baldwin, 1991; Krcmar, 1996; Nathanson, 1999). Consequently, it is vital to equip parents with tools and information to help their children safely and efficiently navigate the online world.
