Factors Affecting Digital Adoption among Teenagers in a Semi-Urban District of India: Implications for Gender Equality

Digital adoption has increasingly been seen as a key driver for accelerating human development. However, contextual factors affect digital adoption in a particular geographical setting. These factors have gendered differences due to systemic patriarchy and social stereotypes. There is limited scholarship on identifying such factors and gender differences in semi-urban settings. The study uses factor analysis to show that the experience of digital training, a basic ability to operate computers, and ease of online presence are the key factors affecting digital adoption in a semi-urban area of India. The study thereby adds a layer of socio-economic context to the categorisation of technology users within the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and considers societal barriers such as gender gaps as key differentiators for digital adoption. The study also finds that teenage girls are at a disadvantageous position in semi-urban areas of India with respect to feeling supported during digital training, having computer skills, having ease of social media usage, etc.