9 in 10 believe that Internet access and mobile can help them for employment, entrepreneurial opportunities, education, banking and healthcare, said a survey by Ooredoo in in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The survey is based on the responses from over 10,500 young adults across seventeen countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The survey said 8 in 10 youth in MENA are optimistic about their future in the coming 12 months.
45 percent of the youth work force is not doing the work they would like to do.
7 in 10 youth consider the speed of the Internet as the primary consideration when selecting a provider.
6 in 10 youth claim a slow Internet connection has the biggest impact upon spending more time online.
70 percent of youth in GCC regularly use a smartphone, compared to 47 percent in Levant and 42 percent in North Africa.
40 percent of youth in GCC access the Internet at work, compared to 23 percent in Levant and 24 percent in North Africa.
91 percent of youth across MENA believe technology is the basis of a modern, forward-thinking and functioning society.
18 percent of time online is spent communicating with others (just over 10 minutes for every hour).
51 percent of youth claim ‘knowing how to fully utilise the technology for business’ is both important and difficult.
91 percent of youth across MENA believe the Internet and technology encourages them to be more entrepreneurial
78 percent of female youth across MENA accessing the Internet do so from home.
77 percent of youth believe women should be given the same business opportunities as men and 72 percent of men agree with this.
Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani, chairman, Ooredoo, said: “This research indicates the pivotal role the evolution of digital technology and connectivity has in the lives of youth in this region.”
In terms of how young Arabs spend their time online, playing games and entertainment still accounts for nearly a quarter of use but it is becoming an ever stronger platform for broadening utility and empowerment. They, along with the Internet, are becoming more sophisticated.
In a typical day, 18 percent of the time on the Internet is used to communicate, followed by 16 percent for learning, education or training, 15 percent on work activities and 12 percent looking for jobs and other employment opportunities.
The report also showed that young Arabs appear to prioritize speed over access restrictions, new products and customer service with 70 percent of youth considering the speed of the Internet as the primary consideration when selecting a provider.
Smartphone usage now exceeds non-Internet connected mobile phones among regional youth overall. Where the reality of owning a smartphone personally is still out of reach, 90 percent still find the time to access a shared device.
Over 20 percent of our respondents claim their households do not have enough money for their basic needs.
More than 80 percent believe it allows them to continue their education beyond what is possible in their country.
With men currently representing two thirds of Internet users in the region, women remain an untapped economic potential. ICT can empower females in ways that previously would not have been considered. 72 percent of men agree that women should be given equal business opportunities.