Strand 1

Social & Ethical significance

Social Impacts

What are the social impacts associated with a particular IT development?

How did the IT development emerge?

Who are the stakeholders—individuals, institutions and societies who initiate and control the IT developments and are affected by them?

What are the advantages and disadvantages for the stakeholders?

What are the social impacts of the IT development on human life? These may include some or all of the following areas: economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, ergonomic, health and psychological.

What feasible solutions can be applied to overcome problems?

Ethical Issues

What are the ethical issues associated with a particular IT development?

Who is responsible?

Who is accountable?

What policies, rules or laws apply to the scenario?

What are the alternative ethical decisions?

What are the consequences of these decisions?

Analyzing social impacts and ethical considerations

Throughout the course, students must analyze and evaluate the social impacts of IT on individuals and

society, and consider the ethical issues raised by these impacts.

Social impacts and ethical considerations need to be analyzed from both a local and a global perspective,

recognizing that attitudes and opinions are diverse within and between different cultures.

Key questions

The discussion of social impacts and ethical considerations can be guided by answering the following

Reference: IB ITGS Guide