Wired women online are an emerging power force around the world. In this original research initiative, MSLGROUP explores the commonalities and differences in the social, emotional and economic powers of wired women in the U.S., U.K., Brazil and in urban China.
With a foreword by Randi Zuckerberg of Dot Complicated, this eBook overviews five key learnings as well as profiles the commonalities and differences of wired women online in each of the key countries studied.
The learnings determined are:
• Going online has improved women's lives...mostly.
• While social media brings friends and family closer together, it also draws new lines in personal relationships.
• Women online and on the go: Wired women in China and Brazil are more accepting of tablets and smartphones than women in the U.S. and the U.K.
• Wired women around the world share concerns about the misuse of technology and social media.
• The relationship between wired women and social media plays an important role in the new consumerism across global markets.
The study includes information on MSLGROUP's new Signature Purchase Path Tool that defines the unique path to purchase in several consumer categories by country, allowing marketers to provide relevant information and support in the right form at the right points along the way. Stephanie Agresta, global director, social media and digital of MSLGROUP writes the "closing thoughts" section of the book.
Elite Class ➥8448380779▻ Call Girls In New Friends Colony Delhi NCR
The Social Wisdom of #WiredWomen Around the World by @msl group
1. Women Online:
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women
Around the World
An eBook and Insights Report Based on Original Research on
Women and Technology, November 2013
2. About this Report
MSLGROUP teamed up with Randi Zuckerberg, the CEO and founder of Zuckerberg Media, editor-in-chief of Dot Complicated
and former marketing director at Facebook, to conduct global research on how the relationship between women and social
media has given women around the world new social, economic and emotional powers.
Called The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World, the global research program explores the evolving relationship
between women and technology in the U.S., Brazil, the U.K. and urban China. The study looks at how a 24/7 social connection
creates new social norms. The study also addresses new data on how women, armed with cutting-edge technology and social
power, have tapped their connected intelligence to revolutionize the way people shop.
3. Table of Contents
2
FOREWORD
4
METHODOLOGY
5
CHAPTER 1 - Wired Women Online: A Growing Power Force
6
8 Women Online: What's their Wisdom?
11
CHAPTER 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
12 Going online has improved women's lives... mostly.
Who are Wired Women?
14 While social media brings friends and family closer together, it also draws new lines in personal
relationships.
16 Women online and on the go: Wired women in China and Brazil are more accepting of tablets and
smartphones than women in the U.S. and U.K.
18 Wired women around the world share concerns about the misuse of technology and social media.
20 The relationship between wired women and social media plays an important role in new
consumerism across global markets.
22
CHAPTER 3 - Wired Women Online Around the World
24 The Wisdom of Wired Women in Brazil
26 The Wisdom of Wired Women in China
28 The Wisdom of Wired Women in The United Kingdom
30 The Wisdom of Wired Women in The United States
4. Foreword
Twenty years ago (maybe even ten years ago), the work day
pretty much ended when you left the office. After shutting
down your desktop computer, it was easy to head home for a
relatively uninterrupted evening. If someone wanted to reach
you, they’d have to call your home phone.
Today, that notion is laughable. Our devices keep us working
around the clock. There are always email to check, texts to
respond to and calendar invites popping up. In addition, our
social media accounts, which are supposed to be fun, require
a lot of upkeep. Those tantalizing notifications keep us
anchored to our screens pretty much 24/7.
It’s easy to proclaim that technology has ruined family time,
or distilled human interactions. But the thing is, it hasn’t. For
every downside of tech use, there are handfuls of upsides. My
smartphone allows me to work flexible hours so I can pick up
my son up from preschool and not miss a beat at the office.
I can spend less time on basic tasks (like deciding on the
fastest route to work, or looking up a recipe), freeing me up
to spend more time on my passions and family life. And I can
stay connected to people I haven’t seen in years, allowing me
to nurture relationships that may otherwise have fallen away.
Technology is so, so good — until you overdo it. And that’s
why for me, it’s a balance — a balance between my digital
life and my real life. Finding that happy medium of tech-life
balance hasn’t been easy, and I’ve had to retrain myself not
to mindlessly scroll through my feeds when I’m bored in line
or at a stoplight. It’s a process, and I can’t honestly say I’m all
the way there yet. But it’s so important to be more mindful of
the way we use our devices, and to remember to look up from
the screen and not use it as a crutch. When you’re trying to
decide where on the tech-life pendulum to land, remember
that you should always swing towards life. Make those human
connections. There will always be another email to answer
or notification to check, but can you say that about a special
moment with a loved one?
All around the world, wired women are struggling to navigate
this new reality. The same tools that delight and excite us
also overwhelm us. It’s easy to feel insecure when you’re not
sure how these technologies are changing your life, family
and career. But with mindful use, the gray zones can become
areas of opportunity, rather than insecurity. This study
underlines how technology has changed societies around the
globe, and highlights areas where wired women everywhere
can flourish.
— Randi Zuckerberg
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Foreword
5. 3
Meet Randi Zuckerberg
Randi Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg
Media, a digital and traditional media and production
company with a studio in the heart of Silicon Valley, and
Editor-in-Chief of Dot Complicated, a newsletter and
website helping people navigate and "untangle" their
wired, wonderful lives.
HarperCollins recently released Randi’s first two books:
Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, which
addresses the multifaceted complications of our socially
transparent world, and a children's picture book, titled Dot.
As an early marketing executive at Facebook, Randi
created and ran the social media pioneer's marketing
programs. She led the company's U.S. election and
international politics strategy and created Facebook's
live streaming initiatives during the 2008 Presidential
Inauguration. Randi was nominated for an Emmy Award
in 2011 for her innovative coverage of the 2010 midterm
elections that integrated online and TV coverage in unique
formats.
Since starting Zuckerberg Media, Randi has produced
shows and digital content for BeachMint, the Clinton
Global Initiative, Cirque du Soleil, the United Nations,
Bravo and Condé Nast, and has many other projects in the
works.
Randi has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America,
The Today Show, Bloomberg News and ABC World News.
She was also a correspondent for the 2011 Golden Globe
Awards and the World Economic Forum in Davos. Randi
was recently appointed to the United Nations Global
Entrepreneurs Council and the World Economic Forum's
Global Council on Social Media.
Randi holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from
Harvard University and resides in Palo Alto with her
husband, Brent Tworetzky, and their son, Asher.
6. Methodology
MSLGROUP and Dot Complicated conducted an online
survey between August 25 and September 7, 2013 in four
geographic locations: the United States, the United Kingdom,
Brazil and urban China. A total of 3,600 fifteen-minute online
interviews were completed, 900 in each of the four markets.
The survey was conducted in English in the United States and
the United Kingdom. It was conducted in Portuguese in Brazil
and Mandarin in the Chinese markets. The margin of error is
+/- 1.6% overall and +/- 3.2% in each market studied.
The survey targeted females between ages 18 and 64 who
use the Internet at least two hours per week. In each market,
the respondents were representative of the online population
with regard to age, geographic region and income.
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Methodology
The goal of the survey was to explore how social media has
empowered wired women online and around the world,
socially, economically and emotionally. Focusing on the
interaction between women and technology, research was
divided into two parts: (1) the online shopping habits of
women, and (2) the relationship between women and social
media, particularly as it has impacted women in key topical
areas highlighted in Randi Zuckerberg’s new book, Dot
Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, such as self, friends,
love, family, career, community and the future. The results
then served to form the MSLGROUP Signature Paths to
Purchase Tool (page 21).
8. Who Are
Wired Women Online?
Connected technology has improved the lives of women
online and around the world, empowering them with new
social, emotional and economic sensibilities, the research
study shows; but it also creates new challenges for them.
The Internet and social media make it easier for women
to access information they need in order to manage and
simplify their lives. It brings them closer to friends and family
and enables them to be informed, savvy shoppers with new
paths to purchase. At the same time, connected technology
presents reasons for concern among women online, whether
regarding misuse of the technology, complicated lines in
their social and family relationships or technology’s addictive
nature.
Stephanie Agresta, global director for social media and
digital at MSLGROUP, further explains the relationship
between women and technology: “Socially, wired women
can tap the collective intelligence of other women for advice
and information and nurture personal relationships in ways
that were not possible before. Emotionally, they are more
in control of their lives. Economically, they are empowered
by access to a global marketplace and an informationdriven shopping experience. Marketers need to recognize
that these wired women are an emerging power force that
is shaping new social behaviors at global and local levels.
With relevant communication and engagement that taps
their common interests and respects their local differences,
marketers can convert this power into opportunity."
Thus, wired women are an emerging power force growing
in emotional, economic and social importance around the
world. Connected through various digital devices, both wired
and wireless, they hold strong ties to social media, enabling
them to leverage their connected intelligence to create a
collective intelligence that bolsters their respective markets.
But more importantly, the report points to some remarkable
consistencies that help define wired women as a whole. In
fact, they share more similarities than differences.
Wired women span three generations. In western parlance,
they are Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, born
between 1949 and 1995. They are likely to be married or
partnered, a parent, and/or a homeowner. They are welleducated: Most have completed some college, and the
greatest percentage have at least a four-year degree. Most
are employed, while half are employed full-time.
Wired women in Brazil are most likely to have a graduate
degree. Those in urban China are most likely to be working.
There are more “homemakers,” or stay-at-home mothers, in
the U.S. In general, each group’s incomes reflect the varying
economies in the markets where they work, though wired
women in China tend to be clustered toward the upper end of
the economic spectrum.
The majority of wired women across the four markets own
a laptop, a desktop computer and a smartphone. Less
than half own a tablet or a traditional cell phone without
Internet access. Their device preferences vary by market,
with significantly more women in China owning a tablet,
smartphone and desktop computer than women in the other
markets.
Wired women have very strong ties to their devices. Threequarters would give up wine for a month instead of their
smartphones. More than a third would give up sex for a
month instead of their smartphones. This emotional tether to
their devices was most powerful in China, where 15 percent
said they would rather give up seeing their families for a
month than their smartphones.
These women are all prolific consumers, nearly all having
purchased clothing, personal care items and food products
within 12 months prior to participating in the survey.
During that same period, about two-thirds purchased
non-prescription health and wellness products. More than
half purchased consumer electronics. A third purchased
household furnishings and major household appliances. A
quarter purchased financial services and sporting goods.
More than one out of 10 purchased an automobile.
The Internet plays a major role in their purchase of goods and
services. In just the last month, nearly nine of 10 wired women
went online to search for information about a product or service.
Over eight in 10 compared prices online; seven in 10 searched
for coupons and half bought clothes online. They are confident
shopping at home and on the go. Their shopping carts roll the
virtual aisles in markets around the world, seeking great deals
on well-researched goods and services.
The relationship between these women and social media
reveals that technology has become a central force in their
lives. Overwhelmingly, they turn to digital and social media
for information about products they intend to purchase.
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 1 - Wired Women Online Growing Power Force
9. 7
What Wired Women Do Online
Most have developed their own social media voice, and more
than half spoke out using social media in the seven days
prior to taking the survey. Nearly three-quarters did so in the
previous month.
Past 30-day Online Activities
97%
Traditional Activities
Almost 50 percent of wired women spend at least two hours
of personal/leisure (non-work) time a day online. Two-thirds
of wired women sent or read an email more than 16 times
in the previous month, and nearly half used social media to
read about current events 16 times or more during the same
timeframe. Interestingly, women in China value social media
more than the other women to keep informed about current
events, but virtually all wired women have actively viewed
social media sites and have shopped online.
88%
92%
5%
Read about current events on a news website
75%
79%
88%
Nearly half of wired women believe that technology has
made their lives more manageable and has had a positive
impact on their families, particularly in Brazil and China,
where women are generally more receptive to technology.
Sent or read an email
13%
Looked at clothes from an online retailer but did not buy
56%
23%
Went online to search for more information about a
product / service I was interested in
68%
20%
Went online to compare prices of a product / service
82%
E-Commerce
57%
Of course, these women also share a range of frustrations
about technology and the digital world. Texting while driving
is the leading source of frustration in the U.S. and U.K. and
proves to be a global issue. But women in each country
expressed concerns that reflect their culture’s varying
social norms. In Brazil, for instance, wired women are most
concerned about friends and family posting inappropriate
things online.
25%
Went online to search for coupons or discounts
that I used to buy a product / service
70%
46%
24%
Bought clothes from an online site
51%
25%
26%
Used my cell phone / smart phone to make a purchase
via the internet
39%
24%
15%
Used my tablet to make a purchase via the internet
36%
All wired women online are likely to be connected with their
work colleagues and children via social media, but are much
less likely to be connected with their boss. The relationship
between these women and social media, however, reveals a
desire for privacy. Most of them protect their email accounts
and social media passwords, considering them important,
private places they do not even share with their spouses or
significant others.
21%
15%
Viewed a comment, picture, or video that my friend /
family member posted online
81%
67%
14%
Social Media
Made a comment on an online site
71%
54%
17%
Made recommendations to my friends / family about a
product / service/ or website that I am now using
59%
Not long ago, these women would have been considered
techies. Facts and figures like those presented in the
study would have painted a rich portrait of the technology
component of their lives. But as the bond between women
and technology continues to grow, so does the acceptance of
technology among wired women across the globe. As Randi
Zuckerberg writes, “Because tech is now such an ingrained
part of our lives, it’s really no longer ‘tech’ content—it’s
modern living.” 1
36%
23%
Uploaded video on an online site to
share with other people
46%
28%
Last 7 days
1
18%
Last 8-30 days
Randi Zuckerberg, Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, HarperOne, page 52
10. Women Online:
What's their Wisdom?
How has technology impacted wired women online? How has
it changed them? How has it made their lives different? What
have wired women learned from technology?
more relationships can be nurtured online, such as those
that in the past might have naturally withered over time — old
classmates, neighbors and work colleagues at past jobs.
To help answer these questions, we looked more deeply at
the new social, emotional and economic powers generated
through the ties between wired women and technology.
Social media offers wired women the opportunity to stay in
the lives of these friends — to wish them "Happy Birthday,"
for example. In fact, a third of women surveyed believe that
social media is the most sincere way to send birthday wishes
to a best friend. In China, that number stands at 44 percent.
Nearly a third of wired women also admit that they spend
more time with their family and friends in social media than
in person.
Because wired women have embraced social media
as the norm — a regular part of their daily lives — they
have reshaped their identity as members of the greater
community. By tapping their collective intelligence, wired
women can share and receive advice — possibly better advice
than they could have received through physical interactions.
Through social networks, they also share values, build a
deeper understanding of people and help each other. In
fact, the survey suggests that social media has made women
more empathetic. A third of them said that participating in
online communities has helped them become more sensitive
toward the situations of others. A third of wired women in
Brazil claim that they devote a large part of their social media
use to helping others.
The New Emotional Power of Wired Women
The New Social Power of Wired Women
Social media has given wired women the ability to tap into
the thinking of like-minded women online and around the
world, linking them to a collective intelligence. The study
suggests that these women leverage this advantage. The
Internet is the first place they go for information, and they
value getting anonymous advice online. And, through the
power of social media, women are able to construct more
robust individual networks of relationships than were
previously possible in the history of womankind. Around
the world, constructing and maintaining these networks is
a priority for wired women who use social media to keep in
touch with friends and family, and to find old friends.
Of course, with the smaller investment in time required,
How does social media emotionally empower women? The
answer is simple: Wired women are more in control of their
lives. More than half of wired women in the study’s four
markets said that technology has made their lives more
manageable, and 45 percent can point to technology’s
positive impact on their families.
Where does this control come from? According to the survey,
part of it stems from the ease with which they access needed
information online. Nearly 80 percent of wired women turn
to the Internet first when they need information. But control
also comes from subtler aspects of wired women’s online
connection. For example, they feel a sense of control in the way
they seek advice and support that they would not have sought
publicly because the social media process offers anonymity.
They can also face lesser feelings of embarrassment and have
more confidence in raising sensitive issues.
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 1 - Wired Women Online Growing Power Force
11. 9
The New Economic Power of Wired Women
Yet, according to our study, the emotional benefit to wired
women is not just limited to control. Wired women are also
apt to feel encouraged by the support they receive when
they visit Facebook, Orkut, Google+ and Twitter. They also
reported having drawn inspiration from YouTube, Pinterest,
blogs, Tumblr and Flickr to be better people.
Thanks in part to the ways in which women and social media
are reshaping online communities, wired women are blazing
a new path to reinvigorate the shopping experience. In fact,
the path is really a series of signature paths that can be
mapped based on purchase category and by market. (See
Learning 5, page 21.) The role of digital and social media
in this path is huge. In every consumer category except for
prescription medicines, wired women rely more on digital
and social media than any other category influencer — such
as friends, family or store employees — or traditional media.
But as with any community, things sometimes go awry. In
her book Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, Randi
Zuckerberg points out the complications sometimes caused
by technology: “Technology is almost everywhere and has
come to dominate our lives. So much so, in fact, that we’re
starting to see people yearning to be less connected and
trying to implement rules, structure and discipline in both
their own and their families’ lives, to ensure that all this
connectivity does not come at the expense of relationships,
skill development and manners.” 1
What this means is that wired women are more informed
consumers than ever before. They search for products using
online search engines. They read online reviews, explore
online ratings and talk to friends and family.
The study echoed Randi’s words, revealing the complex
relationship between wired women and technology. Many
of the wired women surveyed expressed frustrations with
technology and the way it sometimes complicates their
lives. Whether concerned with people texting while driving,
what friends and family post online, or the negative things
people say about them in social media, wired women are
conscious of the potential problems that arise when people
are constantly connected.
The question goes beyond where women access information,
but rather how they sort it, a function that offers marketers
new opportunities for influence. (See Learning 5,
MSLGROUP Signature Purchase Path Tool.) For instance,
a portion of these women describe themselves as curious,
cost-conscious, intellectual, outgoing, label-readers,
politically aware, environmentalists and adventurists. This is
how they live. This is how they shop.
One thing is for certain: Knowledge is power, and chances are
that the wired woman is not going to be duped.
As Randi Zuckerberg says in her book, “What’s the upside?
We’re more connected. What’s the downside? We’re more
connected.” 2
What Social Networks Draw Their Power from Wired Women
Overwhelmingly Facebook
(sites visited at least once a week)
China
Brazil
94%
Qzone
U.S.
SInA Weibo
77%
76%
79%
U.K.
74%
1
2
Randi Zuckerberg, Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, HarperOne, page 63
Randi Zuckerberg, Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, HarperOne, page 65
12. Feelings About Social Media
How Respondents Describe Themselves
Curious
54%
I spend more time with my family and friends via
social media than seeing them in-person
32%
It is my best friend’s birthday. Social media is the most sincere way
for me to wish them a happy birthday.
29%
I would pay my family members to not use social media when we are
visiting each other in person.
16%
Social media allows me to get advice and support that
I would not seek out publicly because I can view commentary from
others without revealing my identity.
36%
Social media is a theater. Everyone is acting and
most of the news they share is not true.
29%
Social media has made me more empathetic
towards others’ situations.
32%
Social media has motivated me to participate
in community activism.
27%
It is more acceptable to log into a social media site during a business
meeting than it is to show up late for that meeting.
12%
Social media is a career resource that is worth paying for, if the social
media sites started charging money to use.
12%
Cost-conscious
51%
Music Lover
47%
Health-Conscious
42%
Intellectual
36%
Outgoing
35%
Label reader (nutritional)
32%
Foodie
30%
Politically aware
I am only using social media because my job expects me to.
9%
I would take a pay-cut to accept a job that allows me to post and
share commentary on social media sites.
7%
I would take a pay-cut to avoid the pressure of using social media.
6%
Social media gives me more options of finding romance via public
profiles or my friends’ contacts.
27%
Environmentalist
25%
Adventurous
23%
14%
I worry that people I date will judge me because of my social media
profile.
12%
Family / Friends
Public / Private
Community
Career
Love
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 1 - Wired Women Online Growing Power Force
14. LEARNING 1
Going online has improved women's lives ... mostly.
and give us ulcers. In my year traveling and speaking, I
realized that there are millions of people around the world
who, although daily users of these technologies, feel
overwhelmed, insecure and confused about how these
technologies are changing their lives, their families and their
careers.” 1
The Internet has made it easier for women to access
information they need in order to manage and simplify their
lives. In fact, eight out of 10 women across the study’s four
geographic markets say that the Internet is the first place
they go when the need information.
Nearly half of women prefer to research a product or service
online rather than go to the store. Only 16 percent of women
prefer to research that product in the store. And a third of
wired women will purchase the product online once they’ve
completed their research.
So overall, wired women online appear to be better off
because of technology and social media. Their Internet use
profile shows that. But as Randi points out, it’s a balancing
act, and a challenging one at that. No one knows this better
than the 15 percent of women who admit to spending so
much time online that they sometimes have to disconnect
from the Internet and technology devices altogether. The
complicated nature of this balance is also underscored by the
fact only 45 percent of women say technology has a positive
impact on their family.
The research also shows that social media gives wired
women a forum where they can seek advice and support
without revealing their identities, creating a more authentic
flow of information, especially regarding sensitive topics that
affect women.
Wired women also draw encouragement, inspiration and
pride from the Internet. Half are inspired to be a better
person when on Pinterest, for instance. They feel pride in
what others in their network have achieved, especially on
YouTube.
88%
79%
prefer to check out a product or service
online instead of going to the store
45%
1
of women agree that technology has made
their lives more manageable
47%
On the other hand, the constant connection to others can
create problems regarding women and social media. Randi
Zuckerberg rings a warning bell in her book, Dot Complicated:
Untangling Our Wired Lives, when she explains, “Ironically,
these same tools that delight people and create endless
social and economic opportunity also keep us up all night
of women turn first to
the Internet for information
52%
Wired women also see social media as a way to stretch
friendships and relationships. Managing multiple friendships
and relationships over time carries a heavy burden. But social
media allows women to engage with many of their friends
more regularly, keeping those relationships alive without
deep commitments of time. In fact, the study shows that
many women spend more time with family and friends via
social media than in person. And as previously pointed out,
most consider social media as a sincere way to wish a friend
"Happy Birthday.”
go online to compare prices for
a product or service
of women believe technology has a
positive impact on their family
Randi Zuckerberg, Dot Complicated:Untangling Our Wired Lives, HarperOne, page 49
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
15. 13
Most users of Chinese social media sites
feel encouraged by the support they receive
and are also inspired to be better
Better Doesn't Mean
Less Complicated
5% believe technology has made their lives
more complicated, but 15% admit they spend
so much time on the Internet that they sometimes
have to disconnect from the Internet and all
technology devices
Qzone
Sina Weibo
WeChat
Tencent Wei
Renren
Kaixin 001
Pengyou
Douban
51.com
Jiayuan
Social Platforms Where Users Are Most
Encouraged by Support they Receive
32%
30%
are encouraged
25%
are encouraged
are encouraged
25%
are encouraged
*Respondents in Brazil, the U.S. and U.K.
Social Platforms Where
Users Are Most Inspired to be Better
49%
Are Inspired
35%
33%
32%
Are Inspired
Are Inspired
Are Inspired
*Respondents in Brazil, the U.S. and U.K.
Develops, Inspires, Encourages
and Builds Pride
Inspired to be better
29%
Proud of what others in their network have accomplished
26%
Encouraged by support received from their network
23%
*Respondents in Brazil, the U.S. and U.K.
Very few reported feeling either envious or intimidated
by others.
16. LEARNING 2
While social media brings friends and family closer
together, it also draws new lines in
personal relationships.
It’s no surprise that social media is redefining the pattern
of personal relationships. In fact, wired women around the
world say they use social media primarily to keep in touch
with friends and family, followed by finding old friends. This
relationship between women and social media has helped
establish boundaries between women and technology and in
wired women’s relationships with others.
So, where are the lines drawn?
• Wired women online are likely to be connected with their
work colleagues and children on social media.
• Wired women in Brazil and China are more likely to be
connected to their colleagues as well as their bosses than
those in the U.K. and the U.S.
• Most respondents indicated that they do not share email
or social media passwords with their spouse or significant
other.
• Respondents agreed strongly that social media gives
them a forum to seek out advice and support without
revealing their identities.
• Nearly all respondents consider access to cellphones a
rite of adolescent passage for children, but the age varies
by country.
• Wired women are concerned about what friends
and families do online and any negative things their
connections they might say about them.
Social Connections
Who is connected to whom on social media?
Connected to colleagues at work
(other than on LinkedIn)
China 82%
Brazil
70%
United Kingdom 32%
United States 28%
Connected to the boss (other than on LinkedIn)
China
41%
Brazil
29%
United Kingdom
8%
United States
8%
Connected to their children
Brazil
In terms of staying in touch, the draw of social media is so
powerful among wired women that they would prefer to give
up wine and caffeinated drinks, such as coffee or tea, than
their cellphones for up to a month. Nearly half would even
give up sex for a week rather than their mobile phones.
47%
China
46%
United States
33%
United Kingdom 28%
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
17. 15
Give Cellphones to Children
Share Passwords with Significant Others
On average, respondents think children should
get a cell phone between ages 11 and 14. That said,
nearly one in five respondents from urban China think
children should wait until age 18 to get a cell phone.
Couples in a relationship share friends and social
relationships, but not necessarily passwords.
Brazilians are the most likely to be casual about
passwords to their social media accounts when it
comes to their significant others. British or
Americans women, on the other hand, are least
likely to share. The British are only half as likely
as the Brazilians to share.
Average Age Women Believe Children Should
Get a Cellphone by Country.
Percentage of women who share passwords to
social media accounts with their significant others.
Brazil
U.K.
U.S.
China
age 11
age 12
age 13
age 14
40%
Brazil
30%
China
23%
United States
19%
United Kingdom
Parent Snoopers or Protectors?
Mobile Phones Vs. Sex
There are two camps here. Moms in Brazil are the
most protective when it comes to monitoring the
online behavior of their children. Those in the U.K.
are most relaxed.
A surprising percentage of wired women would give
up sex for a month rather than their mobile phone.
Brazil 44%
United States
39%
38%
China
45%
China
42%
United Kingdom
United States
28%
Brazil 28%
United Kingdom
18%
What Women Would Rather Give Up Than Their Mobile Phone:
75%
Wine for a month
55%
Coffee/tea for a month
18. LEARNING 3
Women online and on the go: Wired women in China and
Brazil are more accepting of tablets and smartphones
than women in the U.S. and U.K.
In the emerging economies of China and Brazil, wired
women appear to have leapfrogged their counterparts in
the more developed markets of the U.S. and U.K. in their
preference for mobile technology. Ownership of tablets
among women in China is twenty percentage points higher
than in the other markets combined. Ninety-one percent of
Chinese women have smartphones, creating a twenty-one
percentage point gap over all studied markets combined. It
appears as though Chinese women also own more devices
overall. They also tied with the U.K. in ownership of laptops
and outpaced all other countries in desktop ownership.
The only device category in which China didn’t lead was
in ownership of traditional cellphones without Internet
connections.
Device Ownership by Market
Brazilian women had lower scores in tablet and smartphone
ownership; however, they were second only to China in their
comfort with the devices. They showed a preference for using
such devices to pay their bills through the Internet and send,
receive or upload video and photos. Brazilian and Chinese
wired women also prefer these devices to find new friends,
find a party, share their status in social media or locate
restaurants.
Brazil
By contrast, the relationship between women and technology
yields considerably different results in the more developed
countries. In all categories, the preference for computers
(laptops and desktops) to perform the aforementioned tasks
was greatest among U.S. women, with those in the U.K. not
far behind. In fact, nearly two out of three wired women in the
U.S. prefer computers to pay their bills via the Internet. Half
of U.S. women prefer the computer to find a local restaurant,
compared to half of Chinese women and a third of those in
Brazil.
79%
So what does this information foretell? Technology experts,
such as Chetan Sharma, one of the leading strategists in
the mobile industry, believe that “connected intelligence in
mobile devices will be the next major force behind mobile
innovation, and it appears that the mobile industry sees this
vision and is preparing to drive it in this direction.” 1
53%
L
aptop computer
China
82%
United Kingdom
82%
United States
72%
62%
Desktop computer
China
Brazil
69%
United States
62%
United Kingdom
The question is where this “Golden Age of Mobile” 1 will
dawn, though it appears that it may very well take rise in the
emerging economies.
1
Tim Bajarin, Time magazine, “Welcome to the Golden Age of Mobile,” August 26, 2013
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
19. 17
Routine Tasks Wired Women Performed
with their Devices
Smartphone (with Internet access)
China
In the last 30 days…
91%
97%
88%
bought clothes from an online site at least
once
46%
uploaded a video to an online site to share
with others at least once
39%
used a cell phone or smartphone to make a
purchase from the Internet
36%
Tablet (with Internet access)
recommended a product, service or website to
friends and family
51%
57%
searched for online coupons or discounts that
they used to buy a product or a service
59%
Brazil
made a comment on an online site
70%
59%
viewed content that a friend or family member
posted online
71%
United States
Went online to compare prices
81%
70%
went online to search for more information
about a product or service
82%
United Kingdom
sent or read an email
used their tablet to make a purchase from
the Internet
China
61%
United Kingdom
39%
United States
38%
Brazil
28%
Device Preference for Bill-Paying
55%
21%
24%
Computer
Smartphone
Tablet
20. LEARNING 4
Wired women around the world share concerns about
the misuse of technology and social media.
Technology can make life complicated, and wired women
online are concerned about the frustrating havoc technology
and social media can sometimes wreak in their lives. There
seems to be a direct correlation between women and
technology in each country, both revealing each group’s
differences while further unifying them through their
common discontentment.
More than anything else, wired women’s leading frustrations
with social media have to do the behavior of other people
they interact with through technology. In this regard, those in
Brazil are the most frustrated with other peoples’ behavior,
followed by women in the U.K. and U.S.
Texting while driving is a leading source of concern for wired
women and is very much a global issue.
Texting While Driving
Texting while driving worries women around the
world. Nearly a third of all wired women say it is a
major source of frustration or complication in life.
Brazil
42%
United Kingdom
35%
United States
35%
Wired women also worry about friends and family members
posting inappropriate things online. They are concerned
about online damage to their own image — people saying
inappropriate things about them online and friends and
family members posting photos of them or their children
without permission. Other issues of concern include the
behavior of family members and friends using phones at the
dinner table. Similarly, one out of five wired women in Brazil
gets frustrated when their significant other uses a tablet or
smartphone computer in bed.
China
Overall, Brazilian women are more consistently frustrated
by the complications of technology than women from other
parts of the world.
Brazil
16%
Family Members Posting Inappropriate
Things Online
This is the greatest concern of the wired women
in Brazil.
47%
China
20%
United Kingdom
17%
United States
15%
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
21. 19
People Saying Negative Things About
Me Online
Brazil
39%
China
27%
United Kingdom
13%
How Technology Makes Life Complicated
In addition to complications at the dinner table,
technology also sometimes complicates personal
reputations, romantic breakups and bedroom
activities.
Friends or family members posting photos of me
without permission
20%
overall
United States
Friends and family members posting photos of
my children without permission
9%
19%
overall
Having a romantic breakup occur through technology
Dinner Table Social Manners
14%
In many cultures, the dinner table remains a place
for family conversation. One in five wired women get
frustrated by family members or friends who use their
cell phones at the dinner table.
Brazil
27%
United Kingdom
23%
United States
19%
China
10%
overall
A significant other or a spouse using a tablet or phone in bed
11%
overall
22. LEARNING 5
The relationship between wired women and
social media plays an important role in
new consumerism across global markets.
When it comes to purchasing goods and services, wired
women around the world turn to social and digital media as a
source of information at nearly double the rate of traditional
media. This is particularly true for the purchase of clothing,
personal care products, food and non-prescription health
products.
What Wired Women Purchased in the Last
Twelve Months
In many consumer categories, the advice of friends and
family play the most vital role, especially in regard to the
purchase of automobiles, though digital and/or social media
are also common sources of information for purchases. In
certain categories, power influencers, such as health care
practitioners in health-related purchases, play a critical role.
Personal care products
The study found that each product category has its own
primary information source upon which wired women rely in
order to discover and rank the value of consumer products.
For example, online search engines have greatest impact
in the household furnishings category, while online reviews
hold greatest sway in the automobile, home electronics
and sporting goods categories. Online videos have greatest
impact when it comes to appliances.
Health and wellness products
(OTC medications, vitamins, pregnancy tests, etc.)
The study also found that the gap between the reliance
on digital and social media versus traditional media was
greatest in the financial services category (45 percent),
clothing/shoes (37 percent), toys/games (37 percent) and
automobiles (36 percent). In all cases, the “reliance” power
of social and digital was nearly twice that of traditional media
among women online.
Shoes and clothing
84%
80%
Food products
79%
62%
Consumer (home) electronics
55%
Prescription medicine
42%
Children’s toys and games
40%
Household furnishings
34%
Major household appliances
28%
Financial services
27%
Sporting goods
26%
Automobiles
13%
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
23. 21
Did You Know:
62%
of wired women in the U.S. have
purchased prescription medicine, a significantly
higher percentage than in any other market
90%
of wired women in the U.K. and China purchased
shoes and clothing
48%
of wired women in China have purchased
financial service products online, significantly
more than in other markets
of women in the U.K. purchased household
furnishings
46%
of women in the U.S. purchased major
appliances, half as many as women
in most other markets
Only
17%
Signature Paths to Purchase
MSLGROUP has used the information to construct
predictable Signature Purchase Paths, allowing marketers to
provide relevant information and support in the right form at
the right points along the signature pathways. For example,
online search engines have greatest impact in the household
furnishings category, while online reviews hold greatest sway
in the automobile, home electronics and sporting goods
categories. Online videos have greatest impact when it
comes to purchasing appliances.
In turning to social media to purchase goods or services,
wired women use functions like online search, review online
ratings videos and photos, visit online forums and read
online media, all to varying degrees, depending upon their
region of the world and product category.
MSLGROUP Signature Purchase Path Tool
By category of consumer goods and services.
Automobile
(N=472)
Rxs
(N=1285)
Health/
wellness
(N=1439)
Home
electronics
(N=115)
Financial
services
(N=84)
Appliances
(N=85)
HH
furnisHings
(N=95)
Personal
care
(N=1433)
Food
(N=1441)
Clothes/
shoes
(N=182)
Toys/
games
(N=102)
Sporting
goods
(N=86)
Digital/social [Net]
76%
37%
53%
82%
88%
88%
89%
62%
54%
73%
81%
83%
Online search engines
41%
21%
28%
43%
31%
48%
55%
31%
23%
32%
35%
40%
Online reviews
39%
14%
22%
38%
26%
29%
33%
31%
21%
23%
33%
38%
Online ratings
30%
9%
17%
38%
30%
39%
38%
25%
19%
24%
25%
31%
Buying guide, online
27%
7%
14%
22%
24%
38%
33%
21%
18%
21%
19%
28%
33%
Sources of
Information Used
Online photos
25%
4%
11%
30%
6%
29%
36%
18%
16%
23%
38%
Online forums
23%
9%
14%
25%
21%
25%
24%
19%
12%
11%
18%
17%
Online newspapers
19%
7%
12%
14%
27%
25%
21%
16%
15%
9%
19%
27%
Online magazines
17%
6%
11%
20%
12%
26%
21%
19%
14%
17%
17%
28%
Online videos
17%
6%
12%
22%
21%
28%
27%
18%
15%
12%
24%
21%
Blogs
15%
7%
13%
18%
23%
13%
21%
19%
15%
16%
13%
24%
Online tutorials
13%
5%
10%
15%
21%
22%
20%
13%
12%
10%
20%
20%
QR codes
10%
5%
10%
11%
18%
22%
16%
14%
11%
8%
12%
13%
Influencer [Net]
56%
78%
66%
46%
37%
45%
54%
50%
56%
44%
44%
43%
Friends / family
44%
22%
41%
41%
27%
35%
38%
41%
47%
33%
35%
33%
Store employee
27%
15%
26%
19%
23%
26%
34%
23%
25%
18%
20%
21%
Doctor / Nurse
N/A
67%
38%
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Traditional media [Net]
40%
19%
39%
52%
43%
62%
54%
53%
53%
36%
44%
58%
Television
22%
10%
26%
35%
21%
42%
29%
35%
34%
14%
26%
38%
Print magazines
18%
7%
14%
20%
15%
21%
25%
23%
18%
14%
17%
27%
Print newspapers
18%
6%
13%
20%
19%
26%
25%
18%
19%
10%
15%
17%
Printed buying guide
15%
5%
12%
18%
14%
25%
21%
18%
18%
10%
22%
17%
Billboards
15%
5%
12%
7%
13%
26%
21%
17%
15%
12%
15%
19%
Radio
13%
4%
10%
12%
15%
27%
17%
14%
12%
10%
7%
21%
Other
6%
9%
13%
4%
4%
5%
4%
15%
15%
7%
5%
5%
24. Automobiles
Food Products
Sources of Information Used for
Automobiles
Total
(N=472)
U.S.
(N=119)
U.K.
(N=132)
Brazil
(N=120)
China
(N=101)
Sources of Information Used for
Food Products
Total
(N=1441)
U.S.
(N=358)
U.K.
(N=366)
Brazil
(N=316)
China
(N=401)
Digital/social media [Net]
70%
76%
65%
71%
80%
93%
Influencer [Net]
56%
45%
39%
71%
Online search engines
41%
38%
36%
41%
50%
Friends/family
47%
39%
33%
63%
54%
Online reviews
39%
39%
34%
39%
47%
Store employee
25%
13%
12%
39%
38%
Online ratings of products/services
30%
23%
20%
44%
36%
74%
Buying guide, online
27%
24%
21%
30%
36%
Online photos
25%
13%
16%
39%
36%
Online forums/message boards
23%
11%
16%
32%
38%
Online newspapers
19%
8%
10%
32%
27%
Online magazines
17%
4%
7%
29%
32%
Online videos
17%
5%
7%
27%
32%
28%
54%
33%
31%
78%
Online search engines
23%
15%
13%
39%
29%
Online reviews
21%
11%
8%
38%
29%
Online ratings of products/services
19%
8%
8%
35%
24%
Buying guide, online
18%
6%
7%
33%
27%
Digital/social media [Net]
Online photos
16%
7%
5%
34%
19%
Online newspapers
15%
9%
4%
33%
18%
Blogs
15%
8%
4%
33%
19%
Online videos
15%
6%
4%
35%
17%
Online magazines
14%
7%
6%
29%
16%
Blogs
15%
5%
3%
28%
Online tutorials
13%
3%
5%
23%
26%
QR codes
10%
1%
2%
18%
23%
Influencer [Net]
56%
48%
46%
69%
60%
Online forums/message boards
12%
5%
4%
20%
20%
Friends/family
44%
36%
34%
57%
53%
Online tutorials
12%
5%
3%
25%
14%
Store employee
27%
18%
20%
36%
37%
QR codes
11%
5%
3%
18%
17%
40%
22%
21%
57%
66%
53%
43%
31%
78%
61%
35%
Traditional media [Net]
Traditional media [Net]
Television
22%
10%
8%
37%
39%
Television
34%
24%
23%
56%
Print magazines
18%
7%
8%
30%
33%
Print newspapers
19%
17%
9%
33%
17%
Print newspapers
18%
8%
10%
30%
28%
Print magazines
18%
16%
10%
37%
13%
Printed buying guide
15%
6%
9%
22%
25%
Printed buying guide
18%
6%
4%
37%
27%
Billboards
15%
3%
5%
24%
33%
Billboards
15%
5%
6%
27%
24%
Radio
13%
3%
2%
23%
27%
Radio
12%
7%
5%
26%
13%
6%
13%
9%
2%
1%
15%
23%
30%
3%
1%
Other
Personal Care Products
Sources of Information Used for
Personal Care Products
Other
Health and Wellness Products
Total
(N=1433)
U.S.
(N=360)
U.K.
(N=363)
Brazil
(N=307)
China
(N=403)
Sources of Information Used for
Health and Wellness Products
Total
(N=1439)
U.S.
(N=365)
U.K.
(N=356)
Brazil
(N=318)
China
(N=400)
81%
62%
38%
43%
84%
82%
Influencer [Net]
66%
49%
51%
84%
Online reviews
31%
15%
18%
51%
40%
Friends/family
41%
30%
28%
54%
52%
Online search engines
31%
17%
19%
51%
40%
Health care practitioner/doctor/nurse
38%
23%
20%
63%
50%
Online ratings of products/services
25%
12%
12%
48%
29%
Store employee
26%
10%
18%
37%
40%
Buying guide, online
21%
9%
8%
38%
32%
65%
Online magazines
19%
7%
8%
45%
21%
Blogs
19%
8%
5%
40%
24%
Digital/social media [Net]
Online forums/message boards
19%
8%
8%
35%
28%
Online videos
18%
6%
6%
38%
24%
Online photos
18%
8%
6%
38%
22%
Online newspapers
16%
8%
3%
36%
20%
QR codes
14%
5%
3%
26%
23%
Online tutorials
Traditional media [Net]
13%
4%
5%
32%
13%
53%
43%
32%
74%
67%
53%
37%
38%
72%
Online search engines
28%
21%
18%
41%
34%
Online reviews
22%
13%
16%
32%
29%
Online ratings of products/services
17%
9%
10%
35%
17%
Online forums/message boards
14%
6%
7%
23%
21%
Buying guide, online
14%
7%
8%
28%
16%
Blogs
13%
7%
4%
25%
17%
Online newspapers
12%
5%
6%
23%
15%
Online videos
12%
6%
4%
25%
14%
Online magazines
11%
4%
6%
24%
12%
Digital/social media [Net]
Television
35%
26%
22%
51%
41%
Online photos
11%
4%
5%
22%
13%
Print magazines
23%
16%
14%
40%
25%
Online tutorials
10%
4%
3%
24%
12%
Print newspapers
18%
17%
6%
31%
20%
Printed buying guide
18%
5%
4%
41%
26%
Billboards
17%
6%
4%
29%
28%
Radio
14%
6%
4%
30%
17%
Influencer [Net]
50%
41%
38%
64%
Friends/family
41%
35%
31%
Store employee
Other
QR codes
Traditional media [Net]
10%
4%
4%
19%
13%
39%
26%
22%
62%
47%
Television
26%
20%
15%
41%
29%
Print magazines
14%
10%
8%
27%
12%
59%
Print newspapers
13%
6%
6%
22%
16%
51%
48%
Printed buying guide
12%
5%
5%
26%
14%
23%
11%
12%
39%
30%
Billboards
12%
4%
3%
20%
20%
15%
24%
29%
4%
2%
Radio
10%
5%
5%
20%
12%
13%
24%
23%
3%
1%
Other
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 2 - Wired Women Online: Five Key Learnings
26. The Wisdom of
Wired Women in Brazil
Emotions of Brazilian Wired Women
Around Facebook Differs From Women in
Other Markets
Are encouraged by the support received from their networks
30%
(less than in other markets)
Proud of what others in their networks have achieved
24%
(significantly greater than in other markets)
Inspired to be better
There is a unique connection between wired women and
technology in Brazil — women there are particularly receptive
to technology as part of their lives. Of all the markets
studied, social media penetration in Brazil is highest — 97
percent, compared to 86 percent of women surveyed overall.
20%
But the women here are more frustrated with the impact
of technology in general compared to other wired women
online. The leading source of frustration with technology
among Brazilian women is when friends and family post
inappropriate things online followed by texting while driving.
(less than in other markets)
Brazilian women have been visiting social media sites the
longest and spend the most time on social media — an
average of fourteen-and-a-half hours per week, essentially
double that of women in the U.K. or the U.S. And women in
Brazil think children should get a cell phone when they are
young, at age 11, which is two years earlier than the average of
women surveyed elsewhere.
Brazilian women have a preference for the phone over other
media devices. Nearly all wired women there have either a
smartphone or a standard cell phone, and most have a laptop
and a desktop computer as well. On the other hand, less than
one in three owns a tablet.
(significantly greater than in other markets)
Envious of other users
10%
Intimidated by other people’s social status
9%
(less than in other markets)
Top Online Frustrations of Brazilian Wired
Women
People’s behavior
26%*
(Social) postings
20%*
Frustrations with sites
17%*
Actions (bullying, bragging, gossip, complaining)
10%*
*All are significantly larger than in any other market
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 3 - Wired Women Online Around the World
27. 25
Automobiles
Prescriptions
80% | 76%
55% | 37%
Health & Wellness
Frequency of Activities in the Past 30 Days:
Brazil
96%
Traditional Activities
Wired Women in Brazil Rely on Digital and
Social Media Significantly More than Wired
Women Across Markets Combined
Personal Care Prodcuts
92%
81%
Sent or read an email
64%
14%
18%
Read about current events on a news website
50%
22%
20%
Looked at clothes from an online retailer but did not buy
29%
21%
31%
Went online to search for more information about a
product/service I was interested in
94%
43%
28%
23%
Went online to compare prices of a product/service
88%
84% | 62%
Food
28%
26%
Went online to search for coupons or discounts that I
used to buy a product/service
E-Commerce
72% | 53%
34%
62%
19%
24%
Bought clothes from an online site
34%
33%
78% | 54%
19%
8%
9%
17%
Used my cell phone/smartphone to make a purchase
via the internet
10%
9%
14%
Used my tablet to make a purchase via the internet
women in Brazil |
30%
women in markets combined
68%
Music lover
41%
Politically aware
33%
Nutritional label reader
28%
Intellectual
27%
Health-conscious
25%
Adventurous
24%
Environmentalist
21%
21%
22%
Made a comment on an online site
36%
22%
24%
Made recommendations to my friends/family about a
product/service/or website that I am now using
38%
Cost-conscious
48%
82%
46%
Outgoing
91%
Social Media
Curious
15%
Viewed a comment, picture, or video that my friend/
family member posted online
Brazilian Wired Women are More Curious
and Politically Aware than Wired Women
in Markets Combined
Leading aided mentions Brazil
7% 8%
78%
24%
24%
30%
Uploaded video on an online site to share with
other people
68%
23%
20%
16 times or more
6-15 times
1-5 times
25%
28. The Wisdom of
Wired Women in China
their bosses (41 percent) than wired women online from
other markets. By contrast, only 28 percent of women in U.S.
are connected socially with their work colleagues, and only
eight percent are connected with their boss.
Reasons Women from China Use
Social Media*
To keep in touch with friends
74%
Wired women in China have embraced technology and social
media to a greater degree than like-minded women in the
other markets studied. They are more positive about the role
of social media compared to women from the U.S. and Brazil.
There is also a deeper connection between women and their
technology devices than wired women in the other markets.
Social media is much more of an information lifeline for
women in China compared to those in other markets. Over
70 percent turn to social media to stay informed about
current events, as opposed to only 46 percent of women
surveyed around the globe. Nearly half said that social media
has motivated them to participate in community activism,
significantly greater than in any other markets studied. 60
percent of wired women in China say social media makes
them empathetic toward the situation of others.
To stay informed about current events
71%
To keep in touch with family
53%
*Described as a big part of their social media use
Online Romance is Bigger in China*
44%
21%
13%
12%
China
Brazil
U.K.
U.S.
By stark contrast to the other markets, a quarter of Chinese
wired women agree that social media gives them more
options for finding romance via public profiles or their
friends’ contacts. Fifty-two percent of these Chinese women
spend at least eight hours a week on social media sites.
Chinese women are more tied to their devices than wired
women in the other markets. They also tend to prefer
smartphones for finding and sharing information rather than
other devices, such as computers or tablets. To a greater
degree than other surveyed regions, they also feel that it
is more acceptable to log in to a social media site during a
business meeting than it is to be late to that meeting (20
percent). They are also more likely to be connected with their
work colleagues via social media (82 percent), and even with
*Percentage that say online romance is a reason for using social media
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 3 - Wired Women Online Around the World
29. 27
Sites Chinese Women Visit
Sites Visited at Least Once a Week in China
Frequency of Activities in the Past 30 Days:
China
Qzone
Sina Weibo
76%
Traditional Activities
79%
98%
96%
92%
WeChat
26%
13%
Looked at clothes from an online retailer but did not buy
26%
35%
31%
40%
39%
18%
25%
41%
29%
E-Commerce
Went online to search for coupons or discounts
that I used to buy a product/service
88%
20%
33%
35%
Bought clothes from an online site
82%
72%
Pengyou
11%
19%
52%
Used my cell phone/smartphone to make a purchase
via the internet
14%
18%
40%
Used my tablet to make a purchase via the internet
27%
65%
Douban
13%
20%
32%
Viewed a comment, picture, or video that my friend/
family member posted online
23%
89%
51.com
86%
Social Media
Jiayuan
11%
Went online to compare prices of a product/service
31%
12%
57%
95%
59%
Kaixin 001
23%
Read about current events on a news website
97%
Tencent Weibo
42%
64%
Went online to search for more information about a
product/service I was interested in
67%
Rennr
Sent or read an email
32%
33%
24%
Made a comment on an online site
24%
35%
27%
Made recommendations to my friends/family about a
product/service/or website that I am now using
80%
9%
15%
27%
38%
Uploaded video on an online site to share with
other people
68%
13%
26%
16 times or more
6-15 times
1-5 times
29%
30. The Wisdom of
Wired Women in The United Kingdom
Compared to wired women in the Brazilian and Chinese
markets, and similar to U.S. women, U.K. wired women
appear to be most conservative when it comes to the
frequency with which they spend their time online. On the
other hand, they send or read emails most frequently, with
72 percent of them having done so 16 times or more in the
30 days prior to taking the survey. But, U.K. women are next
to the least likely group to read about current news or
events online.
As in the U.S. market, British women have a strong
preference for using their personal computers to perform
most Internet tasks, particularly when paying bills (60
percent). U.K. women tie U.S. women for being least likely to
use their smartphones (18 percent).
40%
of wired women in the U.K. think social
media is theater where everyone is acting
and the news they share is not true, more
than in any other market studied
18%
of wired women in the U.K. say monitoring
their child’s online activities is a part of
why they use social media, lower than in
any other market studied
13%
of wired women in the U.K. say finding
love or romance is a part of why they use
social media
With the possible exception of Chinese women (whose social
media offerings differ from other markets), British wired
women are, across the board, the least connected of all the
markets when it comes to social media sites. Seventy-nine
percent of them belong to at least one social media site, but
they represent the least likely respondents to visit top social
sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn at
least once a week.
In light of the above information, it is important to note that
U.K. wired women are the most skeptical of the connection
between women and social media sites, with a markethigh 40 percent of them claiming that such sites are too
theatrical, wherein most members share news that is
inaccurate or not true.
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 3 - Wired Women Online Around the World
31. 29
Products Purchased in the Last 12 Months by Wired
Women in the U.K.
Clothing/shoes
90%
Food products
Frequency of Activities in the Past 30 Days:
UK
99%
Traditional Activities
What they are Buying
86%
84%
77%
83%
86%
Home electronics
77%
16%
11%
Read about current events on a news website
36%
22%
26%
Looked at clothes from an online retailer but did not buy
13%
25%
39%
15%
28%
43%
Went online to compare prices of a product/service
53%
9%
25%
43%
Went online to search for coupons or discounts
that I used to buy a product/service
E-Commerce
46%
72%
Went online to search for more information about a
product / service I was interested in
Personal care products
Household furnishings
Sent or read an email
61%
7%
27%
Financial Services
36%
Bought clothes from an online site
52%
Children's games and toys
43%
18%
3% 9%
40%
Used my cell phone/smartphone to make a purchase
via the internet
3% 7%
17%
Used my tablet to make a purchase via the internet
27%
28%
3% 7%
17%
Viewed a comment, picture, or video that my friend/
family member posted online
Automobile
69%
15%
Social Media
58%
26%
20%
23%
Made a comment on an online site
15%
18%
25%
Made recommendations to my friends/family about a
product/service/or website that I am now using
40%
4% 9%
27%
Uploaded video on an online site to share with
other people
20%
2% 6% 12%
16 times or more
6-15 times
1-5 times
32. The Wisdom of
Wired Women in The United States
This gap jumps to 29 percentage points when women make
a comment on an online site and a full 40 percentage points
when it comes to uploading and sharing a video. U.S. women
are less likely than women elsewhere to agree that social
media allows them to anonymously access advice
and support that they would hesitate to seek out publicly.
And fewer American wired women than elsewhere say
social media has motivated them to participate in
community activism.
While there might not be outward tension in the psyche
of American wired women regarding the evolution of the
social/digital lifestyle, it exists in the background. Two story
themes seem to be taking shape in the relationship between
American women and technology.
On one hand, American wired women have embraced
the online lifestyle. Thirty-two percent of American wired
women say they spend more time with family and friends in
social media than they do in person. As with wired women
elsewhere in the world, nearly half of American women
would rather give up sex for a week instead of parting with
their mobile phone. More than half of them believe children
should be given a cell phone when they are 13 or younger (56
percent), a slightly younger age than women in China prefer,
but older than what Brazilian and U.K. women suggest.
American women also seem to be rather numb to social
media shock. After women in China, U.S. women are least
likely to become frustrated by the way other people use
social media (15 percent).
But despite the time they spend in social media viewing
posts from their friends, American wired women online are
less engaged in social media than wired women in the other
markets studied. Part of the reason may be that American
women have better overall access to news, information and
shopping. Nonetheless, the gap among American wired
women and wired women in socially connected markets like
China is significant — over 20 percentage points in some
categories. In the past 30 days, only 70 percent of American
women went online to compare prices for a product and
service, compared to 94 percent in China.
American wired women prefer using their traditional
computers (versus other devices) to pay bills and send
and receive photos and videos. In China and Brazil, the
percentage of women preferring to use more mobile
technologies like smartphones and tablets for these tasks
was significantly greater than among U.S. women.
Finally, only one out of three wired women in the U.S.
agree that technology has a positive impact on their family,
a full 12 percentage points lower than the average of all
markets studied. Eight in 10 do not think that their children
maintain a healthy balance in spending activity time with and
without technology devices, a concern Randi Zuckerberg
also observed when writing her book, Dot Complicated:
Untangling Our Wired Lives.
59%
of wired women in the U.S. say social
media is a big part of keeping in touch
with family members, more than in any
market studied
32%
of wired women in the U.S. spend more
time with their family and friends on
social media than in person
12%
of wired women in the U.S. say finding
love or romance is a part of why they
use social media
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Chapter 3 - Wired Women Online Around the World
33. 31
Products Purchased in the Last Twelve Months by
Wired Women in the U.S.
Personal care products
83%
Clothing/shoes
Frequency of Activities in the Past 30 Days:
US
97%
Traditional Activities
What they are Buying
82%
80%
64%
82%
76%
Health and wellness non-prescription products
70%
15%
15%
Read about current events on a news website
31%
25%
24%
Looked at clothes from an online retailer but did not buy
8%
18%
38%
11%
25%
40%
Went online to compare prices of a product/service
67%
10%
22%
38%
Went online to search for coupons or discounts
that I used to buy a product/service
E-Commerce
60%
67%
Went online to search for more information about a
product/service I was interested in
Food products
Prescription medicine
Sent or read an email
66%
10%
27%
Automobile
33%
Bought clothes from an online site
39%
Home electronics
45%
23%
3% 8%
28%
Used my cell phone/smartphone to make a purchase
via the internet
4% 7%
16%
Used my tablet to make a purchase via the internet
23%
13%
3% 5%
15%
Viewed a comment, picture, or video that my friend/
family member posted online
Financial Services
74%
12%
Social Media
58%
27%
21%
26%
Made a comment on an online site
11%
18%
29%
Made recommendations to my friends/family about a
product/service/or website that I am now using
40%
6% 10%
24%
Uploaded video on an online site to share with
other people
28%
4% 8%
16%
16 times or more
6-15 times
1-5 times
34. Closing Thoughts
For almost two decades, I've lived at the intersection of how
social and digital media is transforming our lives and the
communications landscape.
When I began my social media journey, marketers and
communicators needed convincing that social media had
staying power. At the same time, a group of young people
were working out of a house in Palo Alto to expand Facebook
to a broad universe beyond college campuses and made the
entire world more social. Today, the power of social in our
lives is greater than it has ever been. It has connected us
locally and globally and has transformed nearly every aspect
of our existence.
In this research, MSLGROUP and Dot Complicated have
added more depth and a global perspective to a uniquelypositioned and important demographic that is fueling much
of this change: wired women.
Socially, wired women tap the collective intelligence of
other women for advice and information, and nurture
personal relationships in ways that were not possible
before. Emotionally, they are more in control of their lives.
Economically, they are empowered by access to a global
marketplace and an information-driven shopping experience.
The Social Wisdom of Wired Women Around the World | Closing Thoughts
Marketers need to recognize that these wired women are an
emerging power force that is shaping new social behaviors
at the global and local levels. With relevant communication
and engagement that taps their common interests and
respects their local differences, marketers can convert this
power into opportunity.
For me, the key learning is about where the line is drawn
between global and local. The commonality between
how the women in these four markets use social media
is surprising. Social media has brought our world closer
together. But, one size does not fit all. In fact, the opposite
is true. Marketers need to be cognizant that wired women
struggle for #techlifebalance differently depending on where
they live. Marketers need to study up on the nuances in the
path to purchase, depending on where the wired women are
in the world. And ultimately, marketers that want to leverage
this opportunity must build individualized relationships with
these wired women to take full advantage of their power.
This research report and Randi’s new book, Dot Complicated:
Untangling Our Wired Lives, define the most current thinking
about wired women. We hope you enjoy both!
— Stephanie Agresta
35. 33
Meet Stephanie Agresta
Stephanie Agresta is the senior-most ranking digital
executive at MSLGROUP, the 4th largest PR firm in the
world. PRWeek recently named her #6 among digital
creators, innovators and strategists in public relations and
Business Insider cited her as one of the top 25 advertising
executives on Twitter. In 2010, she was named to PRWeek’s
“40 under 40”roster. Her first book, Perspectives on Social
Media Marketing, co-authored with B. Bonin Bough of
Mondelez, was released in October 2010.
Stephanie has delivered on thought leadership and client
excellence in digital for almost 20 years. Over the course
of her career, she has been recognized as a hands-on
counselor instrumental in developing digital and social
media initiatives for major brands such as P&G, PayPal,
Samsung, PepsiCo and Microsoft.
As MSLGROUP’s Global Director of Social Media and
Digital, Stephanie is based in North America and works
in partnership with leaders around the global network on
vision, strategy and talent in support of the agency’s global
social media and digital offering. Responsible for securing
best-of-breed employees and developing innovative
products and services, Stephanie is leading transformative
development of the practice. In 2013, she developed new
MSLGROUP offerings including: IMPact IRM (Influencer
Relationship Management) and Boost (a paid media and
branded content solution).
A long-time leader at the SXSW Interactive festival,
Stephanie launched the “Bloggers Lounge” in 2008, a
networking hub for digital media influencers at the SXSW
conference. She continues to manage the lounge with her
co-host Brian Solis.
Prior to joining MSLGROUP, Stephanie was the EVP,
Managing Director of Social Media, Weber Shandwick.
She also served as EVP, Digital Strategy and Social Media
for Porter Novelli before that. She began her career with
iVillage.com, one of the first sites to build an online
community. At a pivotal time in the industry’s evolution,
Stephanie also served in business development roles at
Barnes & Noble.com, Spafinder.com and Register.com.
Stephanie is a popular speaker at conferences and serves
on the Board of Directors of the Social Media Advertising
Consortium (SMAC).
36.
37.
38. Designed by MSLGROUP CREATIVE+
For more information, contact:
STEPHANIE AGRESTA
Global Director, Social/Digital, MSLGROUP
@stephagresta
375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014
E. stephanie.agresta@mslgroup.com
M. +1 646.500.7814