Modernism and development in technology know no bounds when women are given equal opportunities.

Every area of contemporary life is impacted by the digital era's pervasive technology, connection, and data-driven decision-making. Despite advancements, males continue to disproportionately benefit from access to technology and education, which perpetuates gender gaps in disciplines like STEM and prevents girls from achieving their full potential.

In 2020, 57% of women and 62% of men used the Internet, according to the most recent statistics from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in developing nations.

The National Centre for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) reported that in 2020, women had just 25% of positions in the computer industry. Conversely, males occupied 75% of these positions. Similar disparities exist between men and women in other technical disciplines including engineering and mathematics. Social and cultural issues, such as gender preconceptions and prejudices, which deter girls and women from pursuing jobs in these disciplines, contribute to the gender gap in technical abilities. However, initiatives to broaden inclusion and diversity in technical domains are still being made.

For women in developing nations, the digital age has offered both opportunities and obstacles. On the one hand, it has made it easier for women to access possibilities for work, education, and healthcare. However, on the other side, due to reasons including poverty, a lack of infrastructure, and cultural constraints, many women in developing nations still do not have access to digital technology. Due to this digital divide, there is a substantial disparity in digital skills and knowledge, which makes it difficult for women in developing nations to fully engage in the digital economy and profit from it.

In poor nations, the digital era affects women- UN’s report 

According to a recent UNICEF report released in conjunction with the UN's International Girls in ICT Day, over 90% of teenage girls and young women in low-income countries do not use the internet, but their male counterparts are twice as likely to be online.

According to the research, there is a major risk that women may fall behind economically in a world where digital connectivity is advancing and there is an imbalance between the number of girls and boys online.

Robert Jenkins, Director of Education at UNICEF, said: "We must start now by assisting young people, especially girls, in acquiring digital skills if we want to address gender gaps in the labour market, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (or STEM) fields."

It analyses statistics on internet usage, mobile phone ownership, and digital literacy in economies that are mostly low-, lower-middle-, and some middle-income. The analysis reveals that females are falling behind in a society that is becoming more connected and digital, even while more data is required to better monitor, analyze, and strive toward digital inclusion. According to the survey, girls are the least likely to have access to the opportunity to acquire the skills required for 21st-century schooling and employment.

For simple tasks like copying and pasting files or folders, sending emails, or transferring data, girls are 35% less likely than their male colleagues to have these abilities on average across 32 nations and territories.

The study contends that the gender digital gap is significantly influenced by the family and school systems. Girls' digital access and skill development may be further hampered by barriers to higher education and the job market, widespread gender stereotypes and discriminatory gender norms, and worries about online safety, according to UNICEF.

To overcome these obstacles, kids require early exposure to and access to technology, as well as digital and life skills training that also works to counteract the negative effects of gender stereotypes, particularly those that exist within families and online abuse.