Are Women Shyer on Social Media?

Women are shyer than men on social media except when it comes to which brands they like, according to a new Social Media Habits and Privacy Concerns Study from United Sample Inc. (uSamp), which provides targeted audiences and SaaS (software as a service) technologies for business intelligence.

It surveyed 600 adults in the UK in January 2012. 78% of women said they would share which brand they preferred compared to 74% of men.

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Phone numbers, income and home addresses were the least popular subjects to share on social media for both sexes. Only 3% of women said they would post their physical address on a social network and only 4% would share their phone number.

Men are less shy than women about their salaries: 10% of men would share their income publicly while only 6% of women would do so.

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They are also less coy about their age: 55% of men will confess to how old they are, compared to 45% of women, the study revealed.

And even more interestingly, men were more open about their relationship status than women. 73% of men will share whether they’re coupled up or not, compared to only 70% of women.

Gaelle Normand, MD of uSamp in Europe, comments: “This is good news for retail brands trying to harness social media as a marketing tool. Those targeting a female audience are likely to see more success with viral campaigns, as women recommend their favourite products to friends and followers more readily. Those brands with a male following might find it slightly harder to create a buzz through social channels.”

The findings of the study were released today, Feb. 21.

Photo courtesy: uSamp