The internet industry is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive tech community. Internet Association (IA) member companies recognize the importance of improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the internet community and society at large. IA companies also recognize that companies with diverse workforces perform more effectively and create more innovative products.
Internet companies invest in resources and partnerships that help promote diversity and inclusivity within their workforce and communities. IA members do this by:
The internet industry continues to promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business model. Internet companies understand their platforms thrive from the diverse experiences and feedback of their employees and users. The industry remains committed to engaging with relevant stakeholders, identifying best practices, and finding an industry-wide understanding of problems and potential solutions.
Internet Association 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Benchmark Report
IA and its member companies partnered with The Sadie Collective to analyze D&I data across the internet industry.
Read It HereIndustry Action
IA members invest in resources and partnerships that help promote diversity and inclusivity.
- Partner with organizations such as the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Thurgood Marshall Fund, YearUp, Out for Undergrad, and more to bring talented students into the workforce.
- Implement hiring practices to increase opportunities for people of color in the hiring phase such as policies similar to the NFL “Rooney Rule.”
- Establish teams of individuals focused specifically on building diversity.
- Employ ethicists to continually monitor products and artificial intelligence for signs of unintentional bias.
- Conduct employee and consumer surveys to solicit feedback about their company’s inclusion practices.
- Release annual reports on diversity and inclusion as an overview and guide for future improvements.
- Collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to strengthen the pipeline of new diverse workers in the industry.
- Establish Employee Resource Groups (ERG) for Blacks, Latinos, LGBTQ+, Women, and more to create spaces and communities for members to have a collective voice.
- Engage directly with policymakers, including the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and HBCU Caucus, to find solutions to issues of diversity in tech.