Scroll to explore our findings and ways you can support today’s digital girl.
Many girls are showing their digital
leader stripes: confidence; enthusiasm and
love for learning; the ability to consume
information online with a critical lens; and
interest and aptitude in creating, innovating,
and connecting with social issues and
causes digitally—and inspiring others to
do the same.
Are you...
Non–Digital Leaders
Download the Full Report
Digital Leaders
Hover over to learn more
METHODOLOGY
According to the high standards of Girl Scouts of the USA, an impressive number of girls exhibit leadership in the digital space, seeking to improve their own lives and the world through their digital experiences and use of technology.
Digital Leaders
Are you...
NO
Share this with a girl you know!
1
You’re doing some important things to support your girl’s digital leadership!
Download the report to learn more!
This heightened STEM interest from girls who are digital leaders can potentially narrow the gender gap in STEM careers.
2
5
YES
Non–Digital Leaders
They can regulate their own screen time.
Interest in STEM
Helping her engage safely in this space?
Every girl can become a digital leader.
45%
Connect others to social
issues and causes
Girls are as likely as boys
to be digital leaders.
Girl Scouts stand out in the digital space.
They’re able to:
Emphasize to girls that they have
what it takes to lead in the digital
space, as girls are often given less of
this encouragement than boys.
NO
NO
Key Insight
© 2018–19 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. A 501(c)(3) Organization. All Rights Reserved.
67%
Using technology to create something new
YES
Yes! You’re providing great support for your girl’s digital leadership—keep it up!
3
Boys
Download the Fact Sheet
And download the full report to see the bigger picture and all you can do to ensure your girl’s success in the digital space.
Download the full report to see all you can do to help your girl succeed in this space!
4
Download the report to learn more!
Connecting to social issues and causes through technology
Are you supporting your girl as she becomes a digital leader? Take the quiz!
Interest in Tech Careers
38%
59%
See the Research Methodology
77%
Girls’ potential as digital leaders is limitless.
Their parents have
a positive outlook
on tech.
51%
Key findings from
Interest in STEM
Lower-Income
Girls
Girls who are digital
leaders are more likely to
be able to take a break
from their phones when
they need to
(86% vs. 79% of
other girls).
Discovering a new talent or interest
through technology
Girls Who Are
Digital Leaders
Use technology to
create something new
Encouraging her to learn and explore her interests online?
Decoding the Digital Girl
Survey Participants
Aware of what she’s doing online?
Compared to higher-income girls, lower-income girls have less access to technology in the home–laptops, tablets, desktops–and spend less time engaging in educational activities online.
The Girl Scout Research Institute conducted national research
with nearly 2,900 girls and boys ages 5–17 and their parents
for a closer look into girls’ digital experiences and their use of
technology to lead in their own lives and beyond.
52%
Give all girls a range of opportunities
to explore STEM topics and potential
STEM careers throughout childhood
and adolescence —for one, by
integrating tech education across
subjects in school and in after-school programming.
86% of girls who are digital leaders have parents who talk with them about the positive aspects of technology
(vs. 74% of other girls), such as its potential to help girls gain valuable skills, connect with others in fun and meaningful ways, and learn about the world around them.
Answer five quick questions to see how you stack up.
Teach girls to be skeptical about information they find online—to consider various sources and evaluate
their legitimacy—in order to build
media literacy.
2,894
How are today’s girls using technology to improve their lives, their communities, and the world?
45%
Download the full report to see all you can do to help your girl succeed in this space!
47%
Girls who are digital leaders are more likely
than other girls to be interested in STEM
fields and future tech careers.
Are you supporting your girl as she
becomes a digital leader? Take the quiz.
YES
Here are five ways you can support girls’ digital leadership.
Girl Scouts are more likely to be digital leaders than boys and non–Girl Scout girls.
3
Girls and boys don’t differ significantly when it comes to digital leadership overall: 52% of girls and 50% of boys are digital leaders. However, girls excel in these particular areas:
Are you...
Are you...
Find out what exactly girls are doing
on the internet. Talk to them about their online activity and help them engage safely and meaningfully. Treat daughters and sons equally when it comes to establishing rules about tech use.
Download the Full Report
Key Insight
5
Find reliable
information
NO
Encouraging her to use technology to connect to social issues?
30%
51%
Confidence in tech skills
68%
The GSRI partnered with FROM and Touchstone Research to conduct qualitative and quantitative research with 2,894 participants across the U.S., including 944 girls and 503 boys ages 5–17, and 1,447 of their parents. These national samples aligned with U.S. Census data for youth ages 5–17 with respect to race/ethnicity, urbanicity, geographical region, and household income. Current Girl Scouts (35% of the girl sample, n=323) and non–Girl Scout girls were matched demographically, holding certain factors constant (household income, race/ethnicity, and age) to make equal comparisons between these groups of girls.
Many girls today are
digital leaders.
Quiz
A Report by the Girl Scout Research Institute
Higher-Income
Girls
Helping her take healthy risks and learn from setbacks online?
1
Learn more about today’s digital leaders.
You have some room to grow—and there’s more you can do to support your girl’s digital leadership!
And download the full report to see the bigger picture and all you can do to ensure your girl’s success in the digital space.
You have some room to grow—and there’s more you can do to support your girl’s digital leadership!
Decoding the
4
2
84%
Home = tech-supportive environment.
More than half of girls
are digital leaders.
Interest in Tech Careers
54%
Girls who are digital leaders have
a lot in common...
Connect to social
issues and causes
YES
Defining and Supporting Girls’
Digital Leadership
In the digital space, girls are our world’s current and future innovators, designers, advocates, and community connectors. And with the right access, adult support, and awareness of opportunities, all girls can become digital leaders.
YES
Girls in lower-income households are less likely to be digital leaders and to have interest in STEM fields and tech careers.
Digital Girl
Out-of-school-time activities—Girl Scouting in particular—that cater to girls’ specific learning and leadership styles may reflect the most promising practices for developing ever more girls who
are not just comfortable engaging digitally today, but who are primed to lead us into the digital future.
60% of girls who are
digital leaders have
access to multiple
smart devices at home
(vs. 46% of other girls).
Are you...
Encourage girls to, starting at a
young age, take healthy risks and
learn from setbacks in their online
activity, reminding them that some of
the best innovation comes from trying,
failing, and trying again (and again!).
Let your community know!
Share with your family, friends, and neighbors.
60%
Download the Full Report
Yes! You’re providing great support for your girl’s digital leadership—keep it up!
You’re doing some important things to support your girl’s digital leadership!
NO
Digital Leaders
Girls
Key Insight
Connect other to social
issues and causes
4
Share this with
a girl you know.
YES
Interest in STEM
Connecting to social issues and causes through technology
Decoding the Digital Girl.
Find reliable
information
Many girls today are
digital leaders.
Find out what exactly girls are doing
on the internet. Talk to them about their online activity and help them engage safely and meaningfully. And remember to treat daughters and sons equally when it comes to establishing rules about tech use.
NO
5
Download the report to learn more!
1
Teach girls to be skeptical about information they find online—to consider various sources and evaluate
their legitimacy—in order to build
media literacy.
Connect to social
issues and causes
Discovering a new talent or interest
through technology
52%
Are you...
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT
Encouraging her to use technology to connect to social issues?
Out-of-school-time activities—Girl Scouting in particular—that
cater to girls’ specific learning and leadership styles may reflect
the most promising practices for developing ever more girls who
are not just comfortable engaging digitally today, but who are
primed to lead us into the digital future.
51%
Defining and Supporting Girls'
Digital Leadership
Encourage girls to, starting at a
young age, take healthy risks and
learn from setbacks in their online
activity, reminding them that some of
the best innovation comes from trying,
failing, and trying again (and again!).
Girls in lower-income
households are less
likely to be digital
30%
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT
77%
Give all girls a range of opportunities
to explore STEM topics and potential
STEM careers throughout childhood
and adolescence —for one, by
integrating tech education across
subjects in school and in after-school programming. (and again!).
2
59%
Higher-income
girls
38%
Interest in Tech careers
Using technology to create something new
YES
Helping her to engage safely in this space?
YES
Download the report to learn more!
lower-income girls have less access to technology in their home...
Scroll to explore our findings, and discover ways
you can help support today's digital girl.
Download the report to learn more!
Helping her to take healthy risks and learn from setbacks?
In the digital space, girls are our world’s current and future innovators, designers, advocates, and community connectors. And with the right
access, adult support, and awareness of opportunities in the digital
space, all girls can become digital leaders.
3
Emphasize to girls that they have
what it takes to lead in the digital
space, as girls are often given less of
this encouragement than boys.
67%
Download the report to learn more!
Download the report to learn more!
Download the report to learn more!
NO
Are you...
Girls in lower-income households are less likely to be digital leaders and to have interest in STEM fields and tech careers.
A tech-supportive environment starts at home.
60% of girls who are
digital leaders have
access to multiple
smart devices at home
(vs. 46% of other girls).
Decoding the
Digital Girl.
Use technology to
create somthing new
The Girl Scout Research Institute conducted national research
with nearly 2,900 girls and boys ages 5–17 and their parents
for a closer look into girls’ digital experiences and their use of
technology to lead in their own lives and beyond.
Every girl can become digital leaders.
Regulating their
own screen time comes naturally.
Girl Scouts are more likely to
be digital leaders than
non-Girl Scouts and boys
Are you supporting your girl as she
becomes a digital leader? Take the quiz.
According to the high standards of the Girl Scouts of the USA, an impressive number of girls exhibit leadership in the digital space, seeking to improve their own lives and the world through their digital experiences and use of technology.
Non-Digital Leaders
Non-Digital Leaders
Girls are as likely as boys
to be digital leaders
50%
Many girls are showing their digital
leader stripes: confidence; enthusiasm and
love for learning; the ability to consume
information online with a critical lens; and
interest and aptitude in creating, innovating,
and connecting with social issues and
causes digitally—and inspiring others to
do the same.
Hover over to learn more
This interest from girl digital leaders can potentionally
narrow the gender gap in STEM career interest.
3
2,894
45%
Answer five quick questions to where you stack up
in today's digital world.
Here are five ways you can help support digital girls.
68%
Lower-income girls have less access to
technology in the home–laptops, tablets, desktops–and spend less time engaging in educational activities online.
45%
47%
Girls who are digital leaders are more likely
than other girls to be interested in STEM
fields and future tech careers.
Key Insight
How are today's digital girls using technology to improve their lives, their communities and the world?
4
Learn more about today's digital girl.
60%
NO
2
Girl Scouts stand out in the digital space.
They're able to:
5
Percentage of Girl Digital Leaders
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1
SHARE
YES
Are you...
You have some room to grow – and there’s
more to be done to support your digital leader!
Are you...
Understand what she is doing online?
NO
Keep it up! Now, download the full report to see the bigger
picture and all you can do to ensure your girl’s success is limitless.
Parents have
a positive outlook
of technology.
Number of survey participants
Key findings from
Girls
Girls who are digital
leaders are more likely to
be able to take a break
from their phones when
they need to
(86% vs. 79% of
other girls).
Boys
Let your community know!
Share with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Download the full Report
Interest in STEM
Interest in Tech careers
86% of girls who are digital leaders have parents who talk with them about the positive aspects of technology
(vs. 74% of other girls), such as its potential to help girls gain valuable skills, connect with others in fun and meaningful ways, and learn about the world around them.
Digital Leaders
More than half of girls
are digital leaders.
Girls and boys don’t differ significantly when it comes to digital
leadership overall: 52 percent of girls and 50 percent of boys are
digital leaders. However, girls excel in these particular areas of
digital leadership:
54%
A Report by Girl Scout Research Institute
Girls who are digital leaders have
a few things in common...
You’re on your way to supporting your digital leader!
Download the full report to see all you can do to support your girl!
You’re on your way to supporting your digital leader!
Download the full report to see all you can do to support your girl!
NO
On your way to supporting your digital leader!
Girls' potentintial as digital leaders is limitless.
Are you...
84%
Some room to grow -
Yes! You’re providing great support for your digital leader!
Digital Leaders
Keep it up! Now, download the full report to see the bigger
picture and all you can do to ensure your girl’s success is limitless.
Some room to grow -
Yes! You’re providing great support for your digital leader!
You have some room to grow – and there’s
more to be done to support your digital leader!
YES
On your way to supporting your digital leader!
Building her confidence in the digital space?
