Deeply entrenched gender norms, biases and perceptions are hurting the ability of girls and young women to use the internet, influencing their online activity and hurting their access to information and work, a new report has found.
A survey of more than 10,000 users age 14-21, and their parents, in over half a dozen countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and India, found that girls are constantly being monitored and told they are vulnerable and not competent online, "creating a crisis of confidence".
"This is resulting in girls setting up more protections and behaving more conservatively when connecting with others and sharing personal information online," said the report by nonprofit Girl Effect, the Malala Fund, the United Nations' children's agency UNICEF and the Vodafone Americas Foundation.