Girls left behind: Digital inequality widens in semi-urban India

Despite India’s rapid digital transformation, significant disparities persist in how young people access and use technology, particularly in semi-urban and underserved areas. A recent study published in Digital Health in 2025 has revealed deep-seated barriers hindering teenagers' engagement with digital tools, with far-reaching implications for health intervention programs targeting this demographic.

The study titled “Factors Affecting Digital Adoption among Teenagers in a Semi-Urban District of India: Implications for Digital Health Interventions” investigates the enablers and obstacles to digital technology usage among adolescents in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from 210 teenagers aged 15 to 19, the research identifies stark limitations in access to personal digital devices, digital literacy, and gender-equitable usage, all of which significantly restrict the effectiveness of digital health initiatives in India’s semi-urban heartlands.

The study finds that only 36.2% of surveyed teens had access to a personal digital device. This limited ownership sharply reduces the potential of mobile and web-based health interventions, even as such tools become central to public health strategy. Moreover, the gender divide in device usage was pronounced: boys were far more likely to use digital tools, while girls often lacked both access and digital autonomy, reflecting entrenched social norms and mobility constraints.

How do device ownership and digital skills shape teenagers’ health engagement?

One of the most striking findings of the study is the extremely low prevalence of personal digital device ownership among adolescents in Sitapur. Of the teens who did report usage, more than half accessed devices only occasionally or through shared family phones. The lack of consistent, personal access severely hampers both the frequency and quality of digital engagement, especially for health-related information or services that require privacy and sustained attention.

In addition to device scarcity, digital literacy emerged as a critical determinant of effective technology use. Many adolescents lacked basic knowledge about navigating search engines, installing apps, or distinguishing between reliable and unreliable online content. Without these foundational skills, the mere availability of devices or internet connections is insufficient to promote meaningful engagement.

Furthermore, students with prior exposure to formal digital education, such as through school computer labs or structured learning modules, were significantly more likely to use digital tools confidently. However, such programs were sporadic, underfunded, and inconsistently implemented across schools, limiting their overall impact.

The study also highlights the significant influence of school enrollment and educational attainment on digital readiness. Adolescents who had dropped out or who were irregular in school attendance were far less likely to access or effectively use digital tools. This finding underscores the need for integrated education and digital training strategies that operate beyond formal classroom environments and reach out-of-school youth through community channels.

What role do social norms and gender inequities play in digital exclusion?

Gender emerged as a dominant factor shaping digital behavior among adolescents in the study. Teenage girls reported limited autonomy in using phones, lower confidence in digital navigation, and greater dependence on family members, particularly male relatives, for access to online platforms. These patterns stem from a combination of sociocultural norms, safety concerns, and household-level decision-making that restricts girls’ mobility and online presence.

In contrast, boys not only had higher access to mobile phones but also enjoyed greater digital freedom, often using phones for social media, news, games, and online learning. This disparity reinforces a gendered digital divide that risks marginalizing young girls from health campaigns increasingly delivered through mobile or web-based channels.

Parental attitudes also played a key role. Families that perceived digital tools as unsafe or inappropriate for adolescent use, especially for daughters, were more likely to restrict access altogether. This points to the need for broader community sensitization about the benefits of safe, age-appropriate digital engagement for health, education, and empowerment.

The study further notes that adolescents with strong peer networks and supportive adult mentors were more likely to explore and adopt digital technologies. Trusted social connections enabled teens to learn informally, share tips, and seek help navigating digital platforms, compensating, in some cases, for the lack of formal training.

Designing inclusive digital health strategies for marginalized youth

Digital health interventions targeting Indian adolescents must account for deeply embedded inequities in device access, literacy, and gender norms. Without addressing these foundational gaps, health apps, online portals, and digital outreach campaigns will continue to miss the youth who arguably need them most.

For health policymakers and digital product designers, this means prioritizing community-based training programs, school-level digital inclusion, and tools that work effectively on shared or low-end devices. Programs must also tackle gender bias head-on, empowering girls through dedicated digital literacy efforts, family engagement campaigns, and safe spaces for online learning.

In semi-urban and rural districts like Sitapur, bridging the digital divide is not just a technological challenge - it is a structural and cultural imperative. With digital health poised to become a cornerstone of public health delivery in India, ensuring that no adolescent is left behind is both a moral and strategic necessity. The findings from this study offer critical insights for designing more inclusive, accessible, and effective digital futures for India’s youth.