Perception of Digital Activity, Benefits, and Barriers to Digital Skills among Students

Introduction. The development of digital skills among students is a critical factor for their successful integration into educational and professional environments. Digital literacy is understood as a combination of technical, cognitive, and social competencies essential for meaningful participation in the digital society. The study addresses persistent digital inequality, which manifests not only in access to technology but also in disparities in skill levels, motivation, and perceptions of the digital future. The purpose of the study is to identify barriers and advantages of developing digital skills among students. Materials and Methods. The study is based on an online survey of students of the National Research Mordovian State University (n=205). Quantitative methods were used to analyze the data: contingency tables and correlation analysis. The data is stratified by gender and income level. Results. Students’ digital activity combines universal practices and socially determined variations. Key barriers include lack of time, high cost of courses, and low self-confidence. The benefits of digital skills are associated with remote work and faster access to information. Discussion and Conclusion. Digital inequality is shaped not by infrastructure but by patterns of digital engagement and socio-demographic factors. The findings can be used in designing digital skills courses for students and developing policy initiatives in education.