The Preoccupations of e-Bridget

Shopping and planning vacations is what 30-something women like to do on the net, says a Nielsen survey.

According to a recent Nielsen survey, 30-something women--whom they insist on calling the Bridget Jones generation probably under the assumption that when women hit 30, they automatically grab a pen and start recording their man-hunts--use the Internet mostly for shopping and planning vacations.

The survey that focused on the internet usage patterns of women in the 30 -39 age brackets says that shopping is high on the agenda with sites such as Next, Marks & Spencer and Boots all making it into the top ten. 

At number three, is website Superbreak Mini Holidays as real-life "Bridgets" plan their vacations. 

Ticketmaster comes in at number eight, as women use the Web to organise their social life. 

According to Lucy Green of Neilsen/NetRatings "Bridget Jones may be fictional but it seems that website owners should keep her in mind if they want to attract a thirty-something female audience". 

The Inland Revenue makes a surprise appearance on the list, suggesting that women in their 30s are keeping a close check on their finances. 

Home improvement is another preoccupation, with DIY store B&Q making it on to the list at number ten. 

But it does not look as though women in their 30s are using the internet to search for Mr Right, a major preoccupation of Bridget Jones. 

"Where Bridget and her online counterpart differ is that there's no evidence that e-Bridget is unhappy or looking for a man: dating and friendship services are notably absent from the list," says Ms Green. So, I guess the only thing that women in their 30s have in common with Bridget Jones is that like Bridget Jones they are in their 30s.