The challenge of growing up as a girl in the digital age.

By Ana Cecilia Pérez

Every October 11, International Day of the Girl Child invites us to reflect on the realities facing girls in the 21st century, a radically different landscape than four decades or more ago. Today, girls have an ocean of information at their fingertips thanks to digital platforms, which represents both expansive opportunities and significant risks. 

Digital platforms have democratized access to information, allowing girls to learn, express themselves and connect with others without traditional barriers. However, this openness also exposes them to risks such as online harassment, exploitation and overexposure to inappropriate content. The digital divide, moreover, remains a reality, with many girls in parts of the world lacking these critical technological resources for their personal and educational development and their competitiveness in the professional world in which they will develop.

Compared to girls 40 years ago, today's girls must handle a more complex load of expectations and challenges. The pressures of maintaining a public image on social networks, managing privacy and security online, and at the same time excelling in their studies, are aspects that previous generations did not face in their childhood.

Globally, the 21st century has brought significant advances in girls' rights, with a stronger focus on education, health and protection from abuse and exploitation. However, in many parts of the world, girls still struggle for basic rights, such as equal access to education and legal protection from harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Despite progress, girls still face a predominantly male-dominated environment that limits their opportunities and perpetuates inequalities. From gender stereotypes in the classroom to discrimination in accessing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, the barriers remain high. Moreover, the responsibility for changing these dynamics unfairly falls unfairly on the very girls and women who are struggling to break through.

To put this issue in its proper dimension, here are some relevant facts:

1. According to UNICEF, approximately 60% of children in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to the Internet, which disproportionately affects girls.
2. A study by Plan International shows that nearly 58% of girls and young women have been harassed or abused online. This type of harassment ranges from unwanted sexual comments to direct threats and doxing (publishing private information without consent).
3. UN reports suggest that the expansion of the Internet has facilitated the rise of child exploitation and trafficking, especially in areas without sufficient legal or digital safeguards.
4. Nearly 95% of teenagers report using some form of social networking. Girls tend to use these platforms at younger ages compared to boys, increasing their risk of exposure to harmful behaviors.
5. In terms of commercial exploitation of minors, 'mom run accounts' on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, where parents manage accounts that showcase their children for profit, although there are no accurate global statistics, it is estimated that thousands of girls are featured on these platforms.

The Day of the Girl Child is a reminder that while access to information and technology has transformed childhood, the fundamental challenges of equality, respect and safety remain. This is a call to action to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to forge her own path and contribute to a more just and equitable future for all.

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