More female Internet users than male

Did you know that there are more women Internet users than men in the US? According to research done by eMarketer, there are an estimated 97.2 million female Internet users or 51.7% of the total online users. This figure is estimated to increase to 109.7 million or 51.9% of total online users in 2011. Besides eMarketer, several other firms such as Arbitron and Edison Media Research and Media Metric have also conducted research on this aspect and the majority of results find that women are the maximum users online.

Not only do females make up the majority of Internet users, but more of the female population goes online. This year, an estimated 66.2% of US females ages 3 and older will use the Internet at least once a month, compared with 64.2% of males, according to eMarketer. By 2011, 72.1% of females are expected to go online, vs. 69.3% of males.

eMarketer Senior Analyst Debra Aho Williamson thinks that current trends will shape future Internet demographics and usage. "For girls who have grown up with technology," says Ms. Williamson, "there is no significant gender gap in Internet usage, and the rise of activities that are particularly appealing to young females, such as social networking, will result in even greater usage."