Introduction

• Author: European Institute for Gender Equality (EU body or agency)
• Pages: 13-14

Introduction

13

Gender equality and youth: opportunities and risks of digitalisation

Introduction

(13) Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on

a European Union Work Plan for Youth for 2016-2018, OJ C 417/01, 15.12.2015, 1.

(

14

) More information on the Paris declaration of EU education ministers and the measures taken towards its implementation can be accessed

at this link: https://eu2015.lv/images/notikumi/2015-3-10_Declaration_EN.pdf

The need for an increased focus on youth and

digitalisation is evident considering the rapid

growth in childrens and young peoples access

to the internet, including through mobile internet

devices. According to Eurostat data, 93 % of 16-

24 year olds used the internet daily in 2017. Dig-

ital devices, particularly when used to go online,

provide a multitude of opportunities for young

people, but also expose them to various risks.

Research and policies tend to focus more on

identifying and preventing online risks and harm

and far less on the opportunities and benefits of

online engagement.

Digitalisation has strong potential for the em-

powerment of women and girls, allowing access

to information and knowledge beyond conven-

tional means and providing new platforms for

creativity and self-expression, which can inspire

others to act. It opens new oppor tunities to par-

ticipate, interact and campaign with a view to de-

fending the rights and freedom of women and

girls. It also offers empowerment oppor tunities

for people with specific needs, such as those with

disabilities, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen-

der, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community and

other groups (EIGE, 2016). Digitalisation can ena-

ble less hierarchal forms of communication and

a more equitable media landscape.

While digitalisation can empower women and

girls, it also poses new challenges to gender

equality. Digital technologies have been increas-

ingly associated with cy bercrime and are misused

as an instrument to harass and harm women and

girls, while at the same time reinforcing existing

gender stereotypes. Girls are far more likely to be

victims of negative, degrading and stereotyped

portrayal, c yberbullying, cyb er- harassment, un-

wanted sex ting and sex tortion, hate speech and

personal data misuse. This can have devastating

psychological effects. At the same time, digital

tools and technologies can also play an impor-

tant role in supporting and empowering sur vi-

vors of violence (e.g. web campaigns, information

and support websites and apps) and in helping

to combat gender-based violence (EIGE, 2017a).

Despite the political commitment to maximise

the benefits of digitalisation on education and

economy and numerous international- and na-

tional-research programmes dedicated to digital

technologies, there are still extensive knowledge

gaps regarding digital technologies and gender

equality. Little is known about what girls and

boys gain from new technologies or which strate-

gies work best to empower them online. Broader

knowledge is needed on why girls and boys are

likely to experience harm linked to internet use

and what the emerging gender challenges relat-

ed to digitalisation are. This report aims to fill in

some of these knowledge gaps and support the

development of policies that redress structural

gender inequalities embedded in online and of-

fline worlds.

The issue of digitalisation and youth is high on

the political agenda of the EU. The Council res-

olution on the EU work plan for youth for 2016-

2018 (13 ), for instance, reaffirms the importance

of addressing the challenges and opportunities

of the digital era for youth policy, youth work and

young people. The Paris declaration of education

ministers, adopted in 2015 (14), stresses the prior-

ity of enhancing critical thinking and media liter-

acy, particularly regarding the use of the internet

and social media, so as to develop resistance to

discrimination and indoctrination. The Aus trian

Presidency of the Council of the EU (2018) chose

youth and gender equality as one of its priority

areas in the second semester of 2018.

The EUs commitment to the BPfA marks an im-

portant step in recognising major inequalities