This research focuses on analyzing gender differences in technology adoption and internet usage. As the global penetration rate of the internet increases, the tendency towards the narrowing of gender digital divide increases. Previous studies have shown that there is no gender difference in internet use in the USA and a rapid rise in the proportion of female internet users in China.
From the study findings, it is found that even though the gender difference is not significant in internet access, however, males have a higher tendency of having more years of experience on the internet than females and spending more time online per week. Besides, a significant difference is also found in terms of Linux knowledge and usage as females have less knowledge and use it less than males. Females, however, are more appreciative of the internet’s impact on their studies and job opportunities. It is also found that there is no significant gender difference in internet usage functions such as e-mail, chat, online shopping, information search and communication.
Deductively, there is still a certain digital divide although the gender differences are not significant in certain aspects. The gender gap is presented mostly in the in-depth knowledge and experience as males tend to use the technologies more and have more internet knowledge and experiences than females.
An investigation of differences in undergraduates ' academic use of the internet (Selwyn, 2008)
This article addresses the UK higher education institutions students’ internet engagement as a source of academic information for their studies. As internet act as a means of providing students with ready access to educational opportunities, it plays an integral role in higher education. Universities deliver subject content and provide students with access to the information required for their studies through internet such as via
References: Codoban , I. (2005). Internet usage and gender digital divide in a Romanian students’ sample.PsychNology Journal, 3(3), 265 – 291. Retrieved from http://www.psychnology.org/File/PNJ3(3)/PSYCHNOLOGY_JOURNAL_3_3_CODOBAN.pdf Jones, S. (2002). The Internet Goes to College: How Students Are Living in the Future with Today 's Technology. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 1-23. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED472669.pdf Razieh, J., Ghasempoor, A., Ajdari, Z., & Sadeghigooghari, N. (2012). The Relationship between Internet Addiction and Anxiety in the Universities Students. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research In Business, 4(1), 942-949. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libezp.utar.edu.my/docview/1029925615?accountid=50207 Selwyn, N. (2008). An investigation of differences in undergraduates ' academic use of the internet. Active Learning in Higher Education, 9(1), 11-22. doi:10.1177/1469787407086744