Digital Literacy in Basic Secondary School Students: A Gender Comparative Study

This study aimed to compare the self-perception of digital skills across genders among secondary school students in Peru, to identify potential disparities and advocate for equity-promoting strategies. A structured survey was administered to evaluate operational and formality skills, as well as those related to digital content, among a representative sample of students from both genders using a convenience non-probabilistic sampling method. Females reported higher competence in most digital skills, notably in areas such as online safety and technical problem solving, whereas males demonstrated similar or superior competence in basic navigation and educational technology skills. The implementation of inclusive technological literacy workshops, integration of collaborative research projects and information sharing, and encouragement of male engagement in digital content creation are recommended. These should be supported by equitable access to technological resources, to enhance the confidence and digital competence of both genders in Peruvian classrooms.