Deborah Fallows Online Quotations

Women are the ones who ask directions and men are the ones who never stop to ask directions, so they do it online as well.

The online world is becoming a destination in and of itself -- and that has potentially big consequences for the way people spend their time.

It puts Web surfing in the ranks of the most popular things that people do online on any given day. It elevates it to a different status. People just go and do it a lot more, on a more regular basis than before.

More than men, women are enthusiastic online communicators, and they use e-mail in a more robust way. Women are more likely than men to use e-mail to write to friends and family about a variety of topics: sharing news and worries, planning events, forwarding jokes and funny stories. Women are more likely to feel satisfied with the role e-mail plays in their lives, especially when it comes to nurturing their relationships. And women include a wider range of topics and activities in their personal e-mails.

Men tend to be attracted to online activities that are far more action-oriented, while women tend to value things involving relationships or human connections.

Broadband access and an ever-growing volume of Web content make the Internet a tempting go-to place, and they are likely drivers behind this changing Web surfing habit. People can break up their workday by snacking on the Internet at their desktops. Or they can kill a little waiting time by browsing the Web through their cell phones. Or they can fill a lazy few hours just going online to see what's up.

Once you get past the commonalities, men tend to be attracted to online activities that are far more action-oriented, while women tend to value things involving relationships or human connections.