40% Indian women fear online trolls

While education and career development are top priorities for women Internet users in India, 40 per cent of them fear irrelevant comments, being trolled and followed on smartphones which has become a preferred choice for them to remain online, a new report said on Tuesday.

While 44 per cent of women in Indian metros access online content in English to improve their soft skills and stay "job-ready," this focus is sharper among younger women between the 18-23 age group, said the the Verizon Media survey conducted by Nielsen with 1,300 respondents in 12 cities.

Women users spend time online between 3 pm and 9 pm -- a signal for brands on when to reach and engage with women audiences, according to the survey.

Across locations, younger women were found to access more content related to education, career growth and skill development, while older women between 29-35 years of age accessed more online video content related to personal well-being.

"The internet is empowering a new breed of Indian women who are coming online and preparing to take their place in the workforce. The right platform and support as a community will enable greater inclusion, boosting participation of Indian women at the workplace," said Nikhil Rungta, Country Manager, India, Verizon Media. Smartphones are the device of choice for women users in India, with 60 per cent of women accessing the Internet only on these devices.