Girls busier than boys on social media

GIRLS are more hooked on social media than boys, a survey of secondary school students has found.

Female pupils confessed to spending an average of two hours a day on their favourite sites, compared to one hour and 44 minutes for their male counterparts.

Almost twice as many girls (25 per cent) use social media for more than three hours a day, than boys (14 per cent).

The findings emerged from a National Australia Bank survey of 300 students in Years 10 to 12 at independent schools.

It also revealed: BOYS reported higher levels of physical and mental health and personal happiness; GIRLS rated their people skills above boys; while boys believed they were better at technology and sport; STUDENTS scored themselves similarly on numeracy, literacy, leadership, speaking up, and business; BOTH sexes strongly agreed that “raising children is a shared responsibility”, and that men and women deserve equal pay for the same job; and THE biggest worries were the pressure of schoolwork, tests or grades; getting a future job; not being successful and acceptance into their chosen university or other course.

NAB head of behavioural and industry economics Dean Pearson said, while concerns had been raised about the amount of time young people spent on social media, students had some compelling reasons for using it.

These include keeping in touch with friends, staying informed about big issues such as world politics and the environment, and as a key platform for them to be heard.

Sophie Kaiman, 17, said many young people definitely wanted to know what’s going on in politics and what’s going on in the world.

Bernie Lever, 17, said girls tended to be more interested in sharing experiences with friends and family through social media.