Networks and connectivity are fundamental to understanding digital society. The internet connects people, institutions, and systems across the world, enabling rapid communication, information exchange, and coordination. In IB Digital Society, students are expected to analyze networks not just as technical infrastructure, but as social systems that shape power, access, and community life.
This article explains how networks and connectivity are examined in IB Digital Society and how students should analyze them in exams and inquiries.
What Are Networks and Connectivity in IB Digital Society?
In IB Digital Society, networks refer to interconnected digital systems that enable the flow of information, data, and communication. Connectivity refers to the ability of individuals and communities to access and participate in these networks.
Networks include:
- Internet infrastructure
- Digital communication platforms
- Information-sharing systems
- Social and institutional connections enabled by technology
Students should understand that networks are not just technical links, but structures that influence relationships and opportunities.
Why Networks Matter in Digital Society
Networks shape how societies function. Access to networks often determines who can participate in economic, social, and political life.
Networks matter because they:
- Enable global communication
- Facilitate collaboration and coordination
- Influence information flow and visibility
- Shape power relationships
IB Digital Society encourages students to evaluate who benefits from connectivity and who is excluded.
Connectivity and Access
One of the most important issues in digital society is unequal access to networks. Connectivity is not distributed evenly across regions or communities.
Factors affecting access include:
- Infrastructure availability
- Economic resources
- Geographic location
- Political regulation
Students should avoid assuming universal connectivity and instead analyze how unequal access shapes opportunity and inequality.
Networks and Social Change
Networks can accelerate social change by enabling rapid communication and mobilization. Ideas, movements, and information can spread quickly through connected systems.
However, this speed also brings challenges, such as:
- Rapid spread of misinformation
- Difficulty verifying information
- Amplification of extreme content
Strong analysis examines both enabling and destabilizing effects of networked communication.
Power in Networked Systems
Power in digital networks often lies with those who control infrastructure, platforms, or information flow. Networks can appear decentralized while still concentrating power.
Students should consider:
- Who controls network access
- Who sets rules for participation
- Whose voices are amplified
- Who can be excluded or disconnected
This analysis helps explain why connectivity does not always result in equality.
Networks and Communities
Networks can create new forms of community that transcend physical boundaries. Online communities may form around shared interests, identities, or goals.
These communities can:
- Provide support and belonging
- Enable collective action
- Reinforce exclusion or division
IB Digital Society students should analyze how networked communities operate and whose interests they serve.
Ethical Issues in Connectivity
Connectivity raises ethical questions about inclusion, responsibility, and harm.
Ethical considerations include:
- Whether access should be considered a basic right
- Who is responsible for providing connectivity
- How harm spreads through networks
- Whether restrictions are justified
Ethical evaluation requires balancing freedom, safety, and equity.
Networks in Exams
In exams, students may analyze unseen examples involving networks or connectivity. Strong responses:
- Identify the role of networks clearly
- Apply concepts such as power, space, or ethics
- Analyze impacts on people and communities
- Evaluate implications thoughtfully
Avoid vague statements about “the internet connecting people” without explanation.
Networks in the Internal Assessment
Networks and connectivity work well in the IA when:
- Access varies across communities
- Power relationships are visible
- Social or political impacts can be evaluated
Students should define the network clearly and avoid overly broad topics.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Students often weaken their analysis by:
- Treating networks as neutral
- Ignoring access inequalities
- Overlooking power and control
- Focusing only on benefits
Balanced analysis is essential.
Final Thoughts
Networks and connectivity are the backbone of digital society. IB Digital Society challenges students to examine how the internet shapes access, power, and community life. By analyzing who is connected, how networks are controlled, and what impacts result, students can develop nuanced, high-scoring responses that reflect the complexity of a connected world.
