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Empowering the Future: Girls’ Digital Content Skills in the EU

by News Editor

April 25, 2025

Girls Leading the Way in Digital Skills

In 2023, an impressive number of girls aged 16-19 in the EU showcased superior digital content creation skills compared to the general populace. This age group has become adept at various technical tasks, raising the bar in digital literacy.

With 78.6% handling file management across devices and cloud storage efficiently, and 73.4% leveraging word processing software, these young women clearly demonstrate their tech-savvy prowess. Additionally, 67.7% are creating multimedia files, while 60.8% are skilled in editing photos, video, or audio files. The mastery doesn’t stop there; 47.3% utilize spreadsheet software, with 22.4% tackling its advanced functions.

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Digital Literacy: A Closer Look

Their participation levels in creating integrated digital content elements are noteworthy, surpassing the general population by margins up to 28.5 percentage points. Notably, in activities like multimedia editing and document creation, young girls are participating at higher rates than boys.

Challenges in Coding

Despite these strides, the coding arena shows a noticeable gender disparity. Among EU youth, only 9.9% of girls have written code in a programming language, compared to 19.7% of boys. The gap persists across 24 EU countries, with Austria, Croatia, and Belgium witnessing the largest differences. Interestingly, Lithuania and Greece are outliers, reporting more girls than boys engaging in coding.

Digital content creation skills among girls in the EU

This snapshot of advancing digital literacy among young women coincides with the celebration of the International Day of Girls in ICT, highlighting the theme ‘Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation.’ As these trends continue, it resonates with Cyprus’s initiatives, such as UAE-supported desalination projects that underscore inclusive technological advancement.

Relevant Readings

For further insights into Cyprus’s development, check out our feature on why Larnaca is a top destination for Baby Boomers.

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Call for Reform: Cyprus Faces New Challenges with Emerging Tobacco Products

by News Editor

May 31, 2025

In the face of a burgeoning variety of tobacco products, existing smoking laws in Cyprus are struggling to keep pace, as highlighted by Christos Minas, the president of the Cyprus National Addictions Authority (AAEK). On World No-Tobacco Day, there was a push for legislative reforms to comprehensively cover all tobacco forms, including non-nicotine alternatives.

Addressing Rising Trends with Effective Policies

Minas emphasized the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes and flavored products, particularly among the youth. The proposed legal updates aim to enhance enforcement efficiency against these emerging trends.

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In collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework, the AAEK has established the first set of national guidelines for smoking cessation in Cyprus, crafting prevention and treatment strategies based on robust scientific evidence.

Educating Youth and Public Awareness Initiatives

Efforts are underway to raise awareness, with informative materials distributed to secondary schools across Cyprus. A public event in Nicosia highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment, providing carbon monoxide testing and expert advice on new tobacco products.

Recent data from the Cyprus general population survey 2023 indicates that 38% of smokers have used e-cigarettes recently, and the smoking initiation age remains at 18.

A Glimpse into Youth Smoking Patterns

According to the latest European school survey, 14% of Cypriot students aged 15-16 reported smoking traditional cigarettes last month. Although this rate is declining, Cyprus still ranks high in Europe for e-cigarette and hookah use among students.

The concern is global, with WHO reports showing over 37 million children aged 13-15 engage in tobacco use, driven by aggressive marketing in loosely regulated environments.

The urgency for reform is clear: before these trends solidify, proactive measures are necessary to protect future generations from potentially hazardous habits.