Digital Society: Addressing Issues of Equity and Justice 2027

This module examines how digital technologies shape society, highlighting inequalities and justice in digital contexts. You analyse power in digital systems affecting work, health, welfare, identity, and participation, while developing interdisciplinary skills to integrate technical, social, cultural, and policy perspectives.

The learning outcomes of the module will ensure that students gain knowledge and understanding about the social contexts of the use of digital tools and services, and how they feature in the dynamics of power and in the practices of justice. 

The learning outcomes are:

• Having a foundation for understanding digital society.
• Being able to critically assess the social dynamics of digital technologies, data and services in how they feature in the dynamics of power and justice. 
• Gain understanding of the contexts and perspectives of groups in society in how digital technologies and services feature in their lives.
• Develop insights into the ways in which individuals and communities are included or excluded in digital society and the consequences of these.
• Gain familiarisation of the ethical issues within the dynamics of digital society.

Students gain knowledge and understanding about the social contexts of the use of digital tools and services, and how they feature in the dynamics of power and in the practices of justic

10 two hours online workshops

Evaluation evaluates students’ ability to analyse digital inequalities, apply theories, integrate evidence, demonstrate ethical reflexivity, and propose actionable solutions for just and equitable digital societies, showing clarity, coherence, originality, methodological rigour, and engagement with policy, practice, and lived experience perspectives with: 

• a critical reflection (2000 words) (50%) engaging with key concepts and debates from the module; 

• a substantive analytical essay (2000 words) (50%) in which you apply interdisciplinary perspectives to a chosen issue in digital inequality or justice

1. Bachelor's degree (2.1 or equivalent)
2. Professional working proficiency in English

1. Evaluation evaluates students’ ability to analyse digital inequalities, apply theories, integrate evidence, demonstrate ethical reflexivity.
2. Propose actionable solutions for just and equitable digital societies, showing clarity, coherence, originality, methodological rigour, and engagement with policy, practice, and lived experience perspectives.

Bridgette Wessels is Professor of Sociology of Ineqaulity in the Digital Era