An Exploratory Study on Internet Use and its Application by Underprivileged School Girls

Abstract

Not knowing how to use the Internet continues to be a significant barrier to digital Inclusion in Developing countries, reports World Wide Web Foundation (2017). Their Digital Gender Gap Audit (2016) reveals that half the world’s population is still offline and most of these 3.9 billion people are women in developing countries. Mitigating the digital literacy gap is important to lessen the digital gender gap to ensure inclusive and equitable growth as proposed in the Sustainable Development Goals. The focus now includes - has the access to the internet resulted in potential changes, permeated the social layers and benefitted the Gen Z at the lower social economic strata too? Has it resulted in empowerment, development, and knowledge gaining at the grassroots level? Since the focus is on access, applications, and outcomes of use of the Internet among underprivileged girls, the survey was conducted in Tamil Nadu government schools and Chennai Corporation schools for girls. More than 800 girls were administered the survey questionnaire. The number of filled in questionnaires was 805. The study finds that the underprivileged school girl is aware, ready and motivated to be part of the information society