Gender equality and youth: opportunities and risks of digitalization – Main report

EIGE’s research shows the many ways digital technologies are benefiting young people in access to learning, friendship, information and actions for social change. It also shows that aggressive behaviour online is anticipated and normalised.

For the EU to harness the potential of digital technologies for youth mobilisation, diminishing the power of gender stereotypes online and promoting the diversity of voices, opinions and gender identity are essential.

According to the present study,

1. although young women and men have similar digital skills, young men indicate higher confidence in their digital skills;

2. digital spaces are gendered spaces which hinder the participation of young women;

3. political activities online are more fraught for girls and young women;

4. exposure to online harassment has farreaching effects on young women’s online engagement, and

5. gender norms are exacerbated online