Social Media: Men vs Women

Are men able to use social media more effectively than women? That's a complicated question. It is true that men tend to use social media for business purposes, while women use it to connect with friends and family. Men generally use social media to build influence, whether that be through gathering information or making contacts. In the business industry specifically, men use social media more aggressively in order to grow their networks and research their competition.

Men tend to consume social media passively, whereas women more actively engage. While a larger percentage of women use social media, men are more likely to post about topics such as politics, deep thoughts, and business. You know, “male interests.” In fact, when women post their opinions, they are much more likely to receive negative feedback. Women are also more likely than men to internalize negative feedback, which may play a role in why they tend to steer clear of male-oriented topics on social media.

The difference in men and women's goals when using social media - combined with the backlash women receive for posting the same things as a man - do not necessarily mean men use social media more effectively, but it does mean women have a distinct disadvantage. Men are more likely to use possessive language and authoritative speech, but is that because women receive hate when they bluntly voice their opinions?

I wouldn't say that men use social media more effectively than women, just differently. However, I do believe at least part of that difference stems from the fact that women receive exponentially more backlash than men simply for sharing their opinions on platforms that have the purpose of being a place for people to speak their minds.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.