The guide calls digital society a contested term because there is no single, universally accepted definition of it. Different people and communities experience digital systems differently, so it may be more accurate to speak of multiple digital societies rather than one uniform global society.
This idea belongs to 1.1 What is digital society? and is shared by SL and HL. A contested term is one whose meaning is debated because it depends on perspective, evidence and context. The term combines two complex ideas: what counts as "digital" and what counts as "society."
| Source of debate | Why it makes the term contested |
|---|---|
| Uneven access | Internet connectivity, devices, digital literacy and affordability differ between and within countries. People therefore participate in digital society to different degrees. |
| Different social contexts | Digital systems operate differently across cultural, economic, political and social contexts. A platform may enable expression for one community while increasing surveillance or exclusion for another. |
| Blurred boundaries | Digital and non-digital life are increasingly interconnected. Education, employment and relationships may combine physical, virtual and hybrid spaces. |
| Competing perspectives | Governments, companies, users and excluded non-users may define digital progress differently because they hold unequal power and different values and ethics. |
| Continuing change | New digital systems alter how people create information, communicate and organize. Definitions that seem adequate today may become outdated. |
The common misconception is that digital society simply means "a society that uses technology." This is too broad and assumes that digitalization affects everyone equally. In IB Digital Society, the focus is on how digital systems create, store, process and distribute data and information, and how their impacts and implications vary for people and communities.
For an exam response, define "contested," then explain at least two reasons for disagreement. Connect the term to uneven access and differing stakeholder perspectives rather than presenting one fixed definition. For an Explain question, give reasons or causes; for a Discuss question, present a balanced review before reaching a supported conclusion.
