The impact of internet use on leisure: Gender and age heterogeneity in young people

Abstract

We explore internet use and in-person leisure activities in young people depending on gender and age in an endeavor to uncover primary sources of heterogeneity in that relationship. Using a causal model, we analyze Catalan Youth Observatory 2017 Youth Survey data to explore causal links between internet use and in-person leisure, and using a segmentation algorithm, we explore the effects of gender and age on that relationship. We observed a positive relationship between internet use and in-person leisure that varied according to both age and gender, but also found that gender only contributed to heterogeneity in the younger group. Compared to younger men, younger women seek more information concerning leisure, conduct more online transactions, and access entertainment more. Once younger people enter adulthood, online entertainment and transactions become more focused on in-person leisure, and the influence of information-seeking and social interaction/communication is reduced.