Female Internet users finally outnumbered men and boys online in the United States in May, a reversal from the early days of the male-dominated Internet, according to a report being released today by Internet market research firms Media Metrix and Jupiter Communications. Female users accounted for 50.4 percent of all U.S. Internet users that month, while male users made up 49.6 percent. Women have been slower to go online than men. Female Internet users reached parity with male users online in February, and outnumbered them three months later.
Researchers expect the number of female users to continue to grow.
It's a trend that suggests women are favorably positioned for further growth in the years to come. By far the biggest increase over the past year was for girls aged 12 to 17. Their ranks online soared 126 percent, while the number of boys that age who went online rose only 45 percent. Researchers found teenage girls are flocking to chat rooms and Web sites for their favorite magazines, fashion styles and rock bands. And the Internet is a perfect vehicle for providing this.