Space can be understood at local, regional, national, global and virtual scales. In IB Digital Society, these scales show how digital systems reorganize access, movement, relationships and flows across physical and digital environments. This concept applies to both SL and HL.
The space concept includes physical, geographic, social and virtual spaces. A digital system may operate across several scales simultaneously.
| Scale | How space is understood |
|---|---|
| Local | A neighbourhood, school, workplace or city. Analysis focuses on a nearby community, such as access to a school's digital learning platform. |
| Regional | An area larger than a locality but smaller than a nation, such as a province or cross-border region. Infrastructure and connectivity may differ between regions. |
| National | Space defined by a country's borders, institutions and laws. Governments may regulate platforms, data storage or internet access within their jurisdiction. |
| Global | Connections and flows crossing national borders. Cloud services, international networks and global platforms distribute data, communication and economic activity worldwide. |
| Virtual | Digitally constructed spaces where people interact without sharing a physical location, such as an online game or social platform. Access remains shaped by devices, connectivity and platform rules. |
The scales overlap. A student may remain in a local classroom while entering a virtual learning space hosted on global network infrastructure and governed by national data-protection rules. This demonstrates systems, because infrastructure, platforms, users and regulations are interconnected.
A common misconception is that virtual space is separate from physical space. Virtual activity depends on physical devices, data centres and cables, while unequal access and online activity produce physical social, economic and political effects.
Exam technique: For an explain question, identify a scale and show how it affects access, movement or flows. For an evaluate or discuss question, compare effects across at least two scales and consider different people and communities. Apply the scales to the digital system rather than merely listing them.
