Short answer,

Tech can transmit data on some desirable spectrum.

Longer answer,

This chart shows the privileges for the various licenses, frequencies and data transmission types. The 3rd column shows what the Tech License can do. The red portions are where data can be transmitted. You can do a lot with this.

Children pass the tech exam all of the time. The general license is marginally more challenging, basically the same sorts of questions with a few more details about HF bands. You should just go for it, you won’t regret it.

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Band%20Chart%20-%2011X17%20Color.pdf