Digital Society asks how digital systems shape people and communities. Every answer connects three things: a concept, content (the technology) and a context (where it matters).
The technologies: data, algorithms, computing, media, networks, AI, robots
Contexts
Areas of life: cultural, economic, environmental, health, human knowledge, political, social
Change: how digital systems transform behaviour, institutions and societies.
Expression: how people communicate and create with digital tools.
Identity: how digital systems shape how people see themselves and others.
Power: who controls data, platforms and decisions, and who is affected.
Space: how digital systems change physical, virtual and social spaces.
Systems: how parts interact, including feedback and unintended effects.
Values and ethics: what is right, fair and responsible.
Use real, specific examples (a named app, law, company or event) and consider several stakeholders' perspectives.
Worked example
Analyse a school using facial recognition to take attendance.
Content: algorithms and data (biometric data).
Context: social and political (education, privacy rights).
Concepts: power (who controls the data), values and ethics (consent, bias), identity (students treated as data).
Evaluate: efficiency gains vs privacy risks and possible algorithmic bias against some groups.
Common mistakes
Describing a technology without connecting it to a concept and context.
Using vague, invented examples.
Only considering one stakeholder.
Ignoring unintended consequences.
Quick check
Which is one of the seven Digital Society concepts?
Power. The seven are change, expression, identity, power, space, systems, values and ethics.
Biometric data such as face scans is part of which content area?
Data. It is personal data collected and processed by systems.
Strong answers connect…
concept, content and context. This three-part framework is the core of the course.
An algorithm unfairly favouring one group is an issue of…
bias and values and ethics. Algorithmic bias raises ethical questions about fairness.
Practise this in the app. Interactive diagrams, quizzes, exam-style papers with mark schemes and a personal study planner. Open Digital Society in FortyFive →
IB Digital Society (SL / HL) is organised into: Concepts; Content: Data; Content: Algorithms; Content: Computing; Content: Media; Content: Networks and the internet; Content: Artificial intelligence; Content: Robots and autonomous technologies; Contexts; HL extension: Challenges and interventions; Inquiry project (IA).
Are these IB Digital Society notes free?
Yes. The topic pages, key terms and the first lesson are free. The full lessons, interactive diagrams and exam-style practice papers with mark schemes are in the FortyFive app, which you can start for free.