A7SS111: Research has found some gender differences in Facebook usage. For instance, Haferkamp et al: Advanced social search Research Paper, KC, Ireland

Quantitative Research Report – Social Network Study

Research has found some gender differences in Facebook usage. For instance, Haferkamp et al. (2012) found that women tend to be more likely to use SNS to compare themselves with others and to search for information. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to look at other people’s profiles to find friends. Moreover, women prefer adding portrait photos to their profiles, while men choose full-body shots that included other people.

Additionally, there were gender differences in motives for looking at others’ profiles: men were more likely to seek new relationships, while women looked at others’ profiles to gain information and engage in social comparison.

Haferkamp N, Eimler SC, Papadakis A-M, (2012). Men are from Mars, women are from Venus? Examining gender differences in self-presentation on social networking sites. CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking (15), 91–98.
Furthermore, Thompson and Lougheed (2012) found that there were distinct gender differences related to anxiety and stress from Facebook use. More specifically, they found that females reported more stress caused by Facebook, more anxiety if they cannot access Facebook, and a higher loss of control over checking Facebook.

Additionally, much more females are “heavy users” of Facebook (i.e. spend more than 1 hour a day on the site) than males are. Young women are more involved than young men in emailing, social networking, and texting.

Thompson, S. H., & Lougheed, E. (2012). Frazzled by Facebook? An exploratory study of gender differences in social network communication among undergraduate men and women. College Student Journal, 46(1), 88-98.