This article is devoted to the study of modern possibilities to increase the efficiency of moral and ethical upbringing of students in higher educational institutions. One of such possibilities is motivating them to use new digital technologies in a correct and an ecological way. Proper upbringing of students at higher education institutions and involving them in extracurricular activities contributes to their ethical and moral education and creative development, which helps to achieve the global goals of sustainable development of society (i.e. improving human living conditions and minimizing the negative impact on the environment). In this regard, the authors consider that it is necessary for teachers of higher education institutions to study in more detail the possibilities of new digital and educational technologies precisely considering the principles of environmental friendliness and ethical standards of communication. The authors conduct a complex analysis, including the following methods: theoretical analysis of scientific literature, an anonymous survey of 194 junior full-time students and 48 lecturers and monitoring of the application of digital technologies in different events, held in the Volgograd Institute of Management. The analysis of modern scientific literature on pedagogy and pedagogical psychology, as well as the results of the survey, allowed the authors to draw the following conclusions. The use of new digital technologies and tools, such as smartphones and their apps, videoconferencing services, video recording and presentation development programmes, undoubtedly helps to make the educational and upbringing process easier. All these technical means make the process of creation accessible, attractive, exciting, and involve more students in extracurricular activities. The exact ways of developing efficient and safe online communication during the extracurricular activities are still not yet sufficiently discussed by the methodologists and educators, that’s why this research is to be further continued within another higher educational institutions.