Gender Difference in Internet Usage- a Study among Under Graduate Students in Kannur District, Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.332Keywords:
Information and communication technology, e-commerce, e-banking, e- business, e-learning, virtual library.Abstract
Internet has changed the way individuals and institutions use computer in wide variety of activities. Researchers and scientists, no matter the gender, have to be prepared to overcome the technological obstacles and find needed information for their work. In the present era, the internet is widely used by college students for academic, entertainment and communication purposes. The pattern of internet usage varies between males and females. The study aimed to examine the internet use by male and female undergraduate students. The research was conducted with two main purposes; firstly, to identify student’s overall usage pattern of internet. Secondly, to examine is there any gender differences in usage pattern of internet. Internet usage pattern covers items such as knowledge, purpose of using internet, time spend online, mode of access, type of connection used to access internet etc. The sample of this study consists of 80 students (40 male students and 40 female students) of Kannur District. Using convenient sampling technique, the instrument used for data collection was questionnaire developed by the investigators. Findings of the study reveal that the students are heavy Internet users. Both genders have equal access to internet; however, the differences are noticed in terms of usage pattern. Findings of the study further indicate that female respondents are more likely to use internet for educational/research, entertainment purposes than male. Males are more likely to use internet for social networking, playing online games and also online shopping than females. The survey results revealed that there is difference between male and female students on the purpose of internet use.
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