Communication, Media & Technology Connects And Controls
- This theme asks you to explore how communication tools and media shape societies.
- The crux is first to understand, then show, that the way technology connects people, spreads ideas, and raises issues of truth, privacy, and power, means it is never neutral.
Exam Relevance
You should be able to explain the cultural and ethical impact of communication through media and technology.
Paper 1 (Writing)
- Tasks often involve reacting to how media or technology affects a community.
- Common text types include: articles, blog posts, letters, and reviews of digital campaigns.
SL Example (~210 words, Letter to a friend)
Task: You are studying abroad. Write a letter to a friend back home about how social media has helped you stay connected with your family.
Solution
Dear Sofia,
Moving away has made me realise how much my family depends on technology to stay close. We have a group chat where my parents send photos of dinner, my brother posts silly memes, and my grandmother adds voice messages. It is not the same as being at the table with them, but it keeps me included in small, daily moments.
The strange part is how much this changes my behaviour. I used to call home once a week, but now I feel pressure to check messages constantly. If I do not reply quickly, my mother asks if something is wrong. Technology makes us closer, but it also means I never fully switch off.
Still, I cannot deny its value. Last Sunday, my family video-called me during my cousin’s birthday party. They placed the laptop at the table so I could sing along. I felt part of the celebration even from thousands of kilometres away. Without that call, I would have missed it completely.
That is what I have learned. Social media and video calls are not just tools. They shape how families express care and how we manage distance. They make home portable, even if it sometimes feels heavy to carry around in my pocket.
Write soon,
Selena
- Task fit: Letter format is clear, personal, and addressed appropriately.
- Language: Varied but accessible vocabulary (“voice messages,” “portable,” “pressure”). Register matches a personal letter.
- Organization: Smooth flow from daily examples → behaviour changes → evaluation.
HL Example (~460 words, Review for a school magazine)
Task: Write a review of a recent film you watched, for your school magazine.
Solution
Film Review: The Social Dilemma
When my teacher recommended The Social Dilemma for our media unit, I expected another slow documentary. Instead, I got a film that made me put down my phone for the first time in weeks. The documentary blends expert interviews with short drama scenes that show how algorithms shape the daily lives of teenagers. It is not just informative, it is unsettling.
The strongest part of the film is its ability to turn something abstract, like “data mining,” into situations we all recognise. In one scene, a teenage boy promises to stay off his phone for a week. Within hours, he is bombarded by notifications designed to drag him back online. Watching him struggle felt uncomfortably close to my own habits: the quick check before bed that becomes half an hour, the pull to reply instantly even during homework.
The interviews with former employees of Google, Facebook, and Twitter give the documentary weight. These are people who helped build the systems and now regret how they are used. One expert explains that platforms are not free. We pay with attention, and attention is the most valuable currency in the digital age. That line has stayed with me, because it makes you think about how carefully designed these platforms are to keep us hooked.
Another strength is how the film balances statistics with human stories. Hearing that teenagers’ screen time has doubled in the past decade is striking, but it is the personal stories of anxiety, comparison, and online pressure that really resonate. The film makes you see the numbers through faces and voices that could belong to your classmates.
Not everything in the film works perfectly. Some of the dramatic sequences feel exaggerated, almost like a public service ad. The acting sometimes distracts from the message, especially when it tries too hard to show a “typical” family. Yet even these less convincing parts lead to discussion. After watching, my friends debated whether we should delete Instagram altogether or simply learn to manage it better. That kind of conversation is part of the film’s success.
What makes The Social Dilemma powerful is its relevance. It does not present technology as purely good or purely bad. Instead, it shows how design choices influence behaviour and how much of that influence is invisible. For students like us, who grew up online, the film feels less like a warning and more like a mirror.
I would recommend The Social Dilemma to anyone who has ever wondered why they check their phone so often. It may not make you quit social media, but it will definitely make you think more carefully about who controls your screen time. And that, for a documentary, is a big achievement.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Note- Task fit: Written as a review with a clear title, evaluation, and final rating. Audience and purpose are appropriate for a school magazine.
- Language: Sophisticated but natural register. Vocabulary like “currency of attention,” “resonate,” “conversation is part of the film’s success” shows stylistic control without being over-technical.
- Content: Balances strengths (personal relevance, expert interviews) and weaknesses (over-dramatic acting). Moves beyond plot summary to interpretation of meaning.
- Organization: Logical structure from first impressions → key strengths → weaknesses → overall impact → recommendation. Smooth progression, with a reflective conclusion.
- Show how communication tools shape behaviour, not just how they function.
- For example, Instagram being a photo-sharing app has likely spurred the phenomenon of society editing images to look perfect, therefore influencing self-esteem and social pressures.
Paper 2 (Listening & Reading)
- Expect articles on digital privacy, social media use, online misinformation, or technology in education.
- Areas you should focus on are:
- Cause and effect: “Social media campaigns spread awareness quickly, but can also amplify false information.”
- Winners and losers: “Tech companies profit from user data, while individuals lose privacy.”
- Framing: Media may be presented as empowering, addictive, or manipulative.
- Cultural contrast: In some societies social media is central to activism, while in others it is restricted or censored.
- High-yield answer phrases:
- “The text highlights how media can empower voices but also distort facts.”
- “The passage shows the tension between innovation and regulation.”
- “The article frames technology as both liberating and limiting.”
Individual Oral (IA)
- Images usually highlight the double-edged nature of media and technology.
- Common image types you might see:
- People on phones in public spaces.
- Protest signs mixed with hashtags or social media references.
- Newsrooms, newspapers, or digital screens.
- Campaign posters or online ads.
- And things to look out for:
- Symbols: phones, logos, slogans, devices.
- Stakeholders: who controls the message, who consumes it.
- Contrast: personal freedom vs corporate/government influence.
Mini-Model (HL, ~60 sec):
“This image shows a group of protesters holding signs with hashtags like #MeToo and #TimesUp in front of a government building. It links to the theme of Communication, Media & Technology because it shows how social media movements become real-life protests. The hashtags act as both slogans and tools of connection, spreading from online posts to the streets.
In my community, digital campaigns also influence public debate. For example, student groups often organise marches through Instagram or WhatsApp, which shows how technology is not just for private messages but also for collective action. Globally, this image reminds us that communication tools can give a voice to groups who were previously ignored, but they also raise questions about whether online momentum always leads to long-term change.”
