The study analyzes the digital divide phenomenon as a type of informational inequality, when individuals, organizations, social communities and states have unequal access to digital informational and communicational means, systems and technologies essential for normal functioning of a contemporary society. On the example of Rus-sia and foreign countries, the study presents various aspects of digital inequality: social, legal, generational, gender, etc. The study reflects how difficulties in using digital technologies prevent members of an informational society from fulfilling their primary needs, as well as from exercising their civil rights and liberties. Underlining the legal risks caused by digital inequality, the author points out that the digital divide limits the capacities of many citizens, which goes against consti-tutional norms. At the same time, active use of digital technologies in daily life and digital competency act as substantial social resources, which can assist in overcoming the consequences of the pandemic and raise chances for success in the modern post-COVID world. The pan-demics in general provided the world with an opportunity to reduce digital inequality by intensifying technology interaction; at the same time, the issue of social divide has escalated in certain situations.
digital inequality (or digital divide); Russian society; human rights; youth