Digital technology has transformed the world into a global village by erasing boundaries. With the transition towards modern technology, the concept of distance and time has become irrelevant, and the world has become more interconnected than ever before. Through social media, online education and global trade, different societies have integrated into a single hub, thus encouraging collaboration and mutual understanding. However, this digital transformation comes with various challenges, raising concerns about unequal access to the use of technology.
The concept of digital gender divide refers to the gap between men and women in terms of use of technology and the access to it. It highlights the idea that not everyone benefits equally from the digitally advanced technology and consequently, the cycle of inequalities continues to dominate the world. In developing countries like Pakistan, the digital gender divide persists greatly, with women being more vulnerable to the challenges posed by the technological advancements. According to the GSMA (Global Systems for Mobile Communication’s Association) mobile gender gap report 2025, only 39 percent of women in Pakistan have access to the mobile internet usage as compared to 61 percent of men and only 46 percent of women own mobile phone as compared to 82 percentage for men. What’s alarming is that the percentage of women falls even more below in the rural areas due to lack of technological infrastructure and awareness. Moreover, the financial inclusion report of 2024 reveals that only 14 percent of women have access to financial services as compared to 56 percent of men. The statistics of 2023, reveals major gender gap in access to social media. On Facebook, 77% of users are men, and only 23% are women. On YouTube, 72% of users are men, and 28% are women, while TikTok has 78% male and 22% female users. Instagram has a relatively smaller gap, with 64% male and 36% female users.
This divide is not just about the statistics or access to digital technology, but it reflects deeper structural inequalities that continues to influence the society today. The legacy of so-called patriarchal values still guides and discourages women from transitioning to the digital technology. The access to devices is often controlled by the male family members and women are restricted to use the internet or mobile phone, due to honor, safety and social reputation. Moreover, women are given less access in the economic participation. The social construction of associating women with the pink-collar jobs (i.e. nurturing, caretaking) and men with the blue-collar jobs (i.e. skilled trades) have created dependency. Women are dependent upon the male members of their family in terms of financial matters. Thus, patriarchal structure and lack of awareness hinder women’s access to the use of digital technology. Furthermore, lack of literacy and digital literacy in women remains a major issue as it is a hurdle towards their use of digital technology. They are underrepresented in STEM education and ICT training, making them feel less confident in using technology. Also, the lack of exposure to digital platforms reduces their ability to benefit from online learning, freelancing, or e-commerce. Women are more likely to face stalking, blackmailing and privacy violations. Studies show that around 40 percent of women in Pakistan have experienced some form of online harassment. This discourages them from using social media and online platforms. Thus, cyber harassment and weak enforcement of cyber laws are a major hurdle towards bridging the digital gender divide.
To reduce the digital gender divide and fill the gap, immediate actions are required. There should be a shared platform for multiple stakeholders to collaborate and coordinate to address the digital gender divide. The partnership of the private government sector can be very fruitful. Many initiatives like “Digital Pakistan Policy” and “Digital Inclusion Strategy” have yielded many positive outcomes. Further, the government should formulate policies keeping in view the circumstances and challenges faced by the women in society. Investment should be made to improve digital infrastructure, specifically in the rural areas to empower women from the backward areas as well. Moreover, training sessions should be introduced in schools, colleges, and vocational centers for girls to make them digitally literate. Also, there should be awareness regarding the digital safety practices and laws should be strictly implemented to protect women from cyber harassment. Lastly, in order to progress as a state and society, the digital gender divide must be bridged. It is not just a matter of statistics but is a major blow to the economy of Pakistan. Thus, efforts should be made to address the issue.
