Who Is More Addicted to Social Media: Boys or Girls? New Report Reveals the Surprising Truth

New digital consumption data reveals that young Indians are spending more than two hours daily on social media, while women are emerging as the most engaged users across shopping and e-commerce platforms.

India’s digital landscape is changing rapidly, and a new report has revealed a surprising shift in online behaviour. Girls and young women are now spending significantly more time on social media and digital platforms than their male counterparts, overturning the long-held belief that the internet is dominated by boys.

According to a study on urban India’s digital consumption patterns, young people aged 18 to 24 spend more than 120 minutes every day on social media, far above the national average of 97.9 minutes. This age group remains the most active segment across social networking platforms.

The findings also show a strong gender divide in online engagement. Girls in the 18-24 age group spend 47 per cent more time on social media than boys, making them the most active users across several digital categories.

Women are also leading the way in online shopping and quick-commerce services. Female users demonstrate 42 per cent higher engagement than men across key digital categories, highlighting their growing influence in India’s digital economy.

Among adults aged 25 to 34 living in major cities, women spend an average of 35.2 minutes per day on e-commerce and quick-commerce apps, compared to 24.8 minutes for men. The trend is also reflected across major platforms. Women account for 57 per cent of users on Blinkit, 61 per cent on Meesho, and 54 per cent on Myntra.

The report suggests that any marketing strategy aimed at online shoppers must increasingly focus on women, who are emerging as the most engaged audience segment.

Messaging apps continue to remain a major part of everyday life. Indian users spend an average of 58.6 minutes per day on messaging platforms, reflecting the growing role of digital communication in personal and professional interactions.

Another major trend highlighted in the report is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence tools. Usage of AI-based applications has increased by more than 100 per cent in the last year, indicating growing acceptance of AI-powered services among Indian users.

The study also found strong growth in financial technology. Loan and credit applications recorded a 30 per cent increase in monthly active users, showing rising interest in digital financial services.

While younger users dominate social media, older Indians are more active in entertainment consumption. People aged 35 and above spend an average of 77.2 minutes daily on entertainment platforms, making it one of the most engaging digital categories for that demographic.

The report paints a clear picture of India’s evolving digital habits: younger users are spending more time online than ever before, women are leading engagement across shopping platforms, and AI-powered applications are witnessing explosive growth.

Disclaimer: Digital usage patterns vary by individual. The findings mentioned in this article are based on survey and platform data and may change over time.