Access to the Internet and the patterns of its use are still not equal for women and men, girls and boys. For example, the latest statistics from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Facts and Figures 2019 show that the proportion of women using the Internet globally is 48 per cent, compared to 58 per cent of men. In relative terms, this means that the global Internet user gap is 17 per cent. In developing countries, the digital gender divide is wider and growing faster. Among other manifold benefits, access to the Internet and digital skills offer women and girls opportunities to start new businesses, sell products to new markets, find better-paid jobs and access education as well as health and financial services. It is also a key gateway towards being able to be creators and not only consumers of media and technological solutions as well as to adapt to and succeed in an increasingly digital age.
In many settings, governments, businesses and others have expressed their strong commitment to closing the digital gender gap. A wide range of factors explain the gap including lack of affordability, digital skills and confidence gaps, lack of relevant content, online harassment and violence, and socio-cultural factors. Gender stereotypes and other barriers continue to impact if and how women and girls access ICTs and acquire digital skills, which translates into their professional and educational opportunities in technology-related fields. For maximum impact and sustainability, addressing the socio-cultural factors, such as family and community views on the access to and use of technology by women and girls, is a fundamental step towards closing the digital gender gap.
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