Around 90% of adolescent girls and young women in the poorest countries do not go online, a higher proportion than for boys and men of the same age, according to the constant Unicef, which highlights the role of education in these inequalities.

More adolescent girls and young women are not online than men.

Unicef and the International Telecommunication Union estimated in 2020 that only 37% of young people aged 15-24 worldwide could access the Internet at home. However, the gender gap in digital access is significant in the poorest countries. About 90% of adolescent girls and young women in low-income states are not connected. This is a higher proportion than for boys and young men of the same age (78%).

The UN Children's Fund based its findings on usage data collected in 54 countries. Although girls generally have better reading skills than boys, this does not translate into the use of digital technologies. Instead, adolescent girls are left behind in digital literacy and access to mobile phones, according to the report, which was reported in the media.

The role of education in reducing these inequalities

These figures highlight the importance of education in reducing these inequalities. However, Robert Jenkins, director of education at UNICEF, said in a statement that this "is not just about providing access to the internet and technology". It's about "empowering girls to be innovators, creators, leaders," he said.