Ethical evaluation is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — skills in IB Digital Society. Many students recognize ethical issues in digital systems but struggle to evaluate them in a way that earns high marks. In IB Digital Society, ethics is not about personal opinion or emotional reactions. It is about reasoned judgment, supported by analysis of impacts, responsibility, and values.
This article explains how ethical evaluation works in IB Digital Society and how students should approach ethics in exams and the internal assessment.
What Ethical Evaluation Means in IB Digital Society
In IB Digital Society, ethical evaluation involves assessing whether the design, use, or impact of a digital system is justified. This requires weighing competing values, considering consequences, and identifying responsibility.
Ethical evaluation is not:
- Saying something is “good” or “bad”
- Expressing personal feelings
- Listing ethical concerns without judgment
Instead, it is a structured process of reasoning.
Why Ethics Is Central to Digital Society
Digital systems often affect people at scale, influence behavior, and redistribute power. Ethical questions arise because:
- Decisions are automated or hidden
- Impacts are uneven
- Consent may be limited
- Responsibility may be unclear
IB Digital Society places ethics at the center because digital systems shape society in ways that require justification.
Identifying Ethical Issues Correctly
Before evaluation, students must clearly identify ethical issues raised by a digital system.
Ethical issues often relate to:
- Harm and benefit
