No. Unequal power is not strictly inevitable, but it is a persistent tendency because control over digital systems, data, infrastructure, and decision-making is rarely shared equally.
In IB Digital Society, power means a person’s or group’s capacity to influence or control the actions of others. Power is structural, meaning it is embedded in institutions, organizations, and governments, and the syllabus states that it is not equally distributed. However, this describes how power operates, not an unchangeable law.
Digital systems can concentrate power because platforms control algorithms, collect user data, set participation rules, and possess resources that ordinary users lack. Governments can also gain power through surveillance and regulation. Yet users, civil-society groups, courts, and regulators can challenge these arrangements through collective action, transparency requirements, competition law, and data-protection rules.
| Why inequality may persist | Why it is not inevitable |
|---|---|
| Ownership of infrastructure and data creates structural advantages. | Laws can restrict data collection and platform dominance. |
| Algorithmic systems may operate as inaccessible “black boxes.” | Audits and transparency can increase accountability. |
| Uneven digital access limits some communities’ influence. | Public investment and accessible design can redistribute opportunities. |
System: Facebook’s advertising platform used personal data and algorithms to target users. Example specifics: In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed that data from millions of Facebook profiles had been obtained for political profiling without adequately informed consent. Impacts and implications: Users lost control over personal data, while Facebook and political campaigners held greater capacity to influence communication. The scandal also created opportunities for stronger regulation and public scrutiny. Concepts: The case shows how power can become concentrated, but also how institutions and communities can contest it.
For an SL or HL exam response, treat “inevitable” as a to what extent judgement. Present competing arguments, analyse at least two stakeholder groups, use a specific real-world example, and reach a qualified conclusion. Avoid the misconception that unequal power is automatic simply because digital systems exist.
