LEVEL 2 DIGITAL DISCONTINUITIES AS A NEW TYPE OF FRUSTRATION

Abstract

This study investigates the second level of digital inequality—digital discontinuities—that extend beyond access issues to include how digital opportunities are utilized. Conducted at the M. Akmulla Bashkir State Pedagogical University, the research surveyed over 3,000 students, revealing a spectrum of technical, social, physiological, and financial issues associated with distance education. Despite a majority expressing satisfaction with online learning, substantial concerns were raised regarding educational quality and the effective use of technical resources by educators. The paper argues that technical failures represent first-level digital divide problems, while educational issues signify a more complex second-level divide. This divide correlates with socioeconomic factors, such as human potential, and is further influenced by disparities in age, income, geography, and literacy. The study underscores the persistence of digital inequality due to social constraints and emphasizes the importance of enhancing both infrastructural access and digital competences to bridge this gap.

Keywords: digital divide, frustration, human capital, digital inequality, professional deficits.