A UNICEF report stated that the Internet is available to 90% of adolescent girls and young women in the poorest countries, in a higher percentage than that of males within the same age group, stressing the role that education plays in this disparity.

In 2020, UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union indicated that only 37% of young people, that is, people between the ages of 15 and 24, worldwide had access to the Internet at home.

However, this estimated percentage "disguises significant disparities between males and females related to the availability of equipment, the use of the Internet and digital skills within families," according to a UNICEF report published on Wednesday.

The United Nations Children's Fund examined Internet usage data from surveys conducted in 54 countries, primarily in low-income and some middle-income countries.

The result was that "90% of adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24 (about 65 million people) in low-income countries do not use the Internet, compared to 78% of adolescents and young men of the same age group (about 57 million)", according to the figures. estimated by the report.

"Closing the gap between the two numbers requires not only access to the Internet and technology, but also empowering girls to become innovators, creators and leaders," UNICEF Director of Education Robert Jenkins said in a statement.

Although girls generally have better reading-related skills than boys, this does not translate into the digital field, according to the report.

UNICEF indicated in the report that "adolescent girls and young women in these countries are neglected in terms of digital literacy," stressing the importance of the family environment and education in this case.

"If we want to address the inequality between females and males in the labor market, specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, we should start immediately to help the youth group, especially girls, so that they acquire digital skills," Jenkins said.

The report pointed out that the gap is wide with regard to the availability of mobile phones as well. In the 41 countries surveyed, girls and women between the ages of 15 and 24 were "mostly deprived" of phones, with an average of 13% likely to own a mobile phone, "which limits their digital access," which necessary in the twenty-first century economy.