Students report few internet barriers, study finds
A recent study found university students in Puerto Rico report strong internet access but growing demand for training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital content tools. (Credit: Shmeljov | Dreamstime.com)
University students in Puerto Rico report few traditional barriers to internet access. Most are connected at home, on campus and through their phones. What they say they need is something else: stronger digital skills — particularly in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and content creation tools.
Those findings come from a recent study titled “Barriers to Internet Access and Adoption, and Strategies for Promoting Digital Skills Among University Students in Puerto Rico,” conducted by researchers at the Ana G. Méndez University System’s Carolina campus.
“The results revealed a low prevalence of barriers to Internet use and access among the sample subjects,” the study states.
Students surveyed “consistently connected to the Internet via their mobile phones, at home and within the university context,” the researchers wrote, citing data from the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Bureau showing wireless phone lines increased from 3,495,590 in 2020 to 4,329,710 by August 2024.
The study surveyed 50 students ages 21 to 34 using entry and exit questionnaires, followed by a digital skills workshop and a focus group. Connectivity levels were high. All respondents reported internet access on their mobile phones, and 94% said they had internet service at home.
Researchers described the results as evidence of deep integration of mobile technology in students’ daily lives, aligning participants with digital-native usage patterns.
When asked about barriers outside of work, relatively few students cited economic or geographic limitations. About 24% identified economic constraints and 14% geographic challenges. The largest share, 40%, selected “I prefer not to answer.”
Responses about home connectivity followed a similar pattern. Economic barriers ranged from 8% to 16%, and geographic obstacles from 14% to 16%, depending on question format. In each case, “prefer not to answer” was the largest single response category.
“Economic and geographical factors were not perceived as significant obstacles,” the study explains, suggesting that access challenges may extend beyond income or location.
Even so, 68% of respondents said internet access at home could be improved, a figure that did not change between entry and exit questionnaires.
Nearly all participants agreed that internet access positively affects their lives, increasing from 94% before the workshop to 98% afterward.
After the workshop, familiarity with broadband terminology rose significantly. Before the training, 38% of participants said they knew the term broadband internet. Afterward, 96% did. Recognition of the term digital divide increased from 36% to 96%. Understanding of digital equity rose from 24% to 94%.
“Participants reported an increased perception of knowledge regarding concepts such as the digital divide, digital equity and the digital skills emphasized in the workshop,” the study said. “This increase was statistically significant (p < 0.05),” indicating the result had less than a 5% probability of occurring by chance.
The training combined conceptual discussions with hands-on use of platforms such as Canva and CapCut. More than 90% of participants said the workshop helped them better understand or perform tasks related to online government services, e-commerce, telehealth, employment platforms and digital education tools.
“The study participants overwhelmingly endorse the workshop’s usefulness in their academic, professional and daily activities,” the authors wrote.
Beyond measuring access, the study identified strong demand for advanced digital skills. Participants expressed “a high demand for learning digital applications, such as CapCut and Canva, as well as information about artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.”
Qualitative responses reflected growing awareness of AI as a feature embedded in everyday platforms and highlighted concerns about data protection and safe online practices.
Researchers concluded that connectivity itself was not the primary constraint for this group. Instead, gaps in digital literacy and applied skills represent the more pressing challenge.
“In general terms, the barriers would be related to the need for education in digital skills,” the study states.
For higher education institutions and policymakers, the findings suggest that with device ownership and baseline connectivity already widespread, targeted instruction in digital literacy and emerging technologies may yield greater impact than access-focused initiatives alone.
Editor’s note: The Spanish translation of this article was generated using artificial intelligence and may contain inaccuracies. For any questions, please refer to the original English version.
