Several organizations, include GSMA and the Pew research center conduct research on the gender gap in cell phone and smartphone use as well as access online in general. The gender gap is related to geographical region. In some areas (some parts of Europe and the US), there is very little to no gender gap in online access. In other areas of the world (some parts of Asia and Africa), the gender gap is as high as 30%.
Less online access means less economic mobility through access to information, literacy, and job opportunities.
Takeaways
- When you’re designing online products for parts of the world where there’s a large gender gap in online access, it’s likely that most of your target audience is men.
- When you’re designing online products for parts of the world where there’s a large gender gap in online access, the women who are using your product are likely higher in education and income than many of the other women in that area.
- Check to see what the gender gap for online access is for the part of the world you are designing before you design.