The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, has called on industry leaders to invest in the future by ensuring every young person has access to the web.

Too many young people around the world are excluded from accessing the internet, and getting them online should be a priority for the post-Covid era, Berners-Lee, popularly known as TimBL, said.

TimBL, in a letter published to mark the 32nd birthday of the web, said the opportunity “to reimagine our world and create something better” in the aftermath of Covid-19 must be channelled to getting internet access to the third of people aged between 15 and 24 who are offline.

"A third of young people have no internet access at all. Many more lack the data, devices and reliable connection they need to make the most of the web. In fact, only the top third of under-25s have a home internet connection, according to Unicef, leaving 2.2 billion young people without the stable access they need to learn online, which has helped so many others continue their education during the pandemic," he added.

In the letter, Berners-Lee also argued that aiming to connect every young person in the world to the web would reap dividends.

"Doing so would be relatively cheap compared with the cost of many government programmes launched over the last 12 months," he argued.

He estimated that an investment of $428bn (£307bn) over the next decade would provide everyone with a quality broadband connection.

According to Berners-Lee, the consequences of this exclusion affects everyone.

"How many brilliant young minds fall on the wrong side of the digital divide? How many voices of would-be leaders are being silenced by a toxic internet? Every young person who can't connect represents a lost opportunity for new ideas and innovations that could serve humanity," he said.

"Imagine how many more people … could tackle critical challenges if they could access a safe and empowering web."

The letter concluded with a push for tech companies to understand the unique experiences and needs of young people. It also urged companies to work with young people to co-create products and services that respect their rights.&nbsp;

(with inputs)

The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, has called on industry leaders to invest in the future by ensuring every young person has access to the web.

The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, has called on industry leaders to invest in the future by ensuring every young person has access to the web. Too many young people around the world are excluded from accessing the internet, and getting them online should be a priority for the post-Covid era, Berners-Lee, popularly known as TimBL, said. TimBL, in a letter published to mark the 32nd birthday of the web, said the opportunity “to reimagine our world and create something better” in the aftermath of Covid-19 must be channelled to getting internet access to the third of people aged between 15 and 24 who are offline. "A third of young people have no internet access at all. Many more lack the data, devices and reliable connection they need to make the most of the web. In fact, only the top third of under-25s have a home internet connection, according to Unicef, leaving 2.2 billion young people without the stable access they need to learn online, which has helped so many others continue their education during the pandemic," he added. In the letter, Berners-Lee also argued that aiming to connect every young person in the world to the web would reap dividends. "Doing so would be relatively cheap compared with the cost of many government programmes launched over the last 12 months," he argued. He estimated that an investment of $428bn (£307bn) over the next decade would provide everyone with a quality broadband connection. According to Berners-Lee, the consequences of this exclusion affects everyone. "How many brilliant young minds fall on the wrong side of the digital divide? How many voices of would-be leaders are being silenced by a toxic internet? Every young person who can't connect represents a lost opportunity for new ideas and innovations that could serve humanity," he said. "Imagine how many more people … could tackle critical challenges if they could access a safe and empowering web." The letter concluded with a push for tech companies to understand the unique experiences and needs of young people. It also urged companies to work with young people to co-create products and services that respect their rights. (with inputs)

World Wide Web is 32, but too many young people are excluded from internet, rues inventor Tim Berners-Lee

"The web is not working for women and girls," were the words of Tim Berners-Lee, who created the world wide web on Thursday.&nbsp;

Berners-Lee made these remarks in an assessment published on the World Wide Web Foundation, an initiative by him that fights for free and open web for everyone. &nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;UN Study: 90% of people are biased against women&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-study-90-of-people-are-biased-against-women-gravitas-284862/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He also said that a "dangerous trend" of abuse threatens the progress made towards achieving gender equality.

"The world has made important progress on gender equality thanks to the unceasing drive of committed champions everywhere," he said.&nbsp;

"But I am seriously concerned that online harms facing women and girls -- especially those of colour, from LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalised groups -- threaten that progress."

Berners-Lee also said that the abuse was so extensive that "over half of young women surveyed have experienced violence online", citing a report from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

The internet founder also highlighted that discrimination gets further triggered as a lot of women could not get the access to the internet.&nbsp;

He also said that men are 21 per cent more likely to be online, increasing to 52 per cent in the world's least developed countries.&nbsp;

Berners-Lee said such inequalities brings the risks of "Contract for the Web", a global action plan he initiated a year ago to prevent the web becoming a "digital dystopia".

(With AFP inputs) 
&nbsp;

"The web is not working for women and girls," were the words of Tim Berners-Lee, who created the world wide web on Thursday. Berners-Lee made these remarks in an assessment published on the World Wide Web Foundation, an initiative by him that fights for free and open web for everyone.

"The web is not working for women and girls," were the words of Tim Berners-Lee, who created the world wide web on Thursday. Berners-Lee made these remarks in an assessment published on the World Wide Web Foundation, an initiative by him that fights for free and open web for everyone. Watch | UN Study: 90% of people are biased against women He also said that a "dangerous trend" of abuse threatens the progress made towards achieving gender equality. "The world has made important progress on gender equality thanks to the unceasing drive of committed champions everywhere," he said. "But I am seriously concerned that online harms facing women and girls -- especially those of colour, from LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalised groups -- threaten that progress." Berners-Lee also said that the abuse was so extensive that "over half of young women surveyed have experienced violence online", citing a report from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. The internet founder also highlighted that discrimination gets further triggered as a lot of women could not get the access to the internet. He also said that men are 21 per cent more likely to be online, increasing to 52 per cent in the world's least developed countries. Berners-Lee said such inequalities brings the risks of "Contract for the Web", a global action plan he initiated a year ago to prevent the web becoming a "digital dystopia". (With AFP inputs)

Web is not working for women, girls: Internet founder

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World Wide Web is 32, but too many young people are excluded from internet, rues inventor Tim Berners-Lee

Web is not working for women, girls: Internet founder