The editor of Downcodes learned that Ofcom, the British digital regulator, released a report revealing differences in online behavior based on gender. Report data shows that men use generative AI and online dating platforms at a significantly higher rate than women, raising concerns about AI ethics and gender equality. The report analyzed in detail the behavioral patterns of male and female users on different platforms and pointed out that women are more concerned about the potential risks of AI than men. The following content provides an in-depth look at key findings from the report.
Recently, UK digital regulator Ofcom released a compelling report exploring differences in online behavior based on gender. The report shows that men’s use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and online dating platforms is significantly higher than that of women.
According to the survey, about 50% of men said they had used generative AI in the past year, compared with only 33% of women. Meanwhile, 29% of women said they were unfamiliar with generative AI, and 30% said they didn’t know how to use the technology.
Picture source note: The picture is generated by AI, and the picture authorization service provider Midjourney
Ethical issues are an important topic in discussions about AI. Ofcom's survey found that women are more worried about the risks that AI may bring, with 17% of women saying they are concerned about its risks, compared with only 11% of men. In addition, when it comes to their views on the future impact of AI, 64% of women expressed concern about this, compared with 55% of men. Recently, Amazon stated that AI will add trillions of dollars to global GDP, so it is particularly important to ensure that women are involved in the use of AI.
Male participation is equally significant in the use of dating platforms and adult websites. The survey showed that 65% of men said they had visited a dating website, compared with only 35% of women. Of the top ten dating platforms, only Hinge has more female visitors than men. As for adult websites, 43% of men said they had visited related websites in May 2024, while the proportion of women was only 16%. Men spent an average of 1 hour and 44 minutes on these sites, compared to 1 hour for women.
When it comes to visits to online news websites, the proportions of men and women are relatively balanced, at 49% and 51% respectively. However, the average time men spent on these sites was 4 hours and 49 minutes, while women spent 3 hours and 28 minutes.
Things have changed when it comes to access to health and fitness content. Data shows that 88% of women visit health and wellness websites, compared to 80% of men. Among visitors to the NHS website, 57% are women and 43% are men. This is closely related to women's habit of paying more attention to health and visiting doctors more frequently.
Ofcom's report provides valuable data for our understanding of how gender differences manifest in the digital world, and also provides an important reference for promoting wider and fairer use of AI technology. In the future, more research is needed to delve into the reasons behind these differences and corresponding coping strategies.