APCSP Digital Impact 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social media platform uses an algorithm to decide which posts appear in a user's feed. Which digital impact concern does this BEST illustrate?
- Data compression reducing quality
- Filter bubbles limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints (Correct answer)
- Encryption preventing data sharing
- Bandwidth throttling slowing load times
Correct answer: Filter bubbles limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints
Algorithmic curation can create filter bubbles by showing users only content that aligns with their existing views.
Question 2: A city deploys facial recognition cameras in public spaces to identify criminals. Which tradeoff does this scenario BEST represent?
- Speed vs. accuracy
- Security vs. privacy (Correct answer)
- Cost vs. benefit
- Analog vs. digital
Correct answer: Security vs. privacy
Facial recognition in public spaces trades individual privacy for potential public safety benefits.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of a positive unintended consequence of the internet?
- Increased cyberbullying among teenagers
- Rapid spread of misinformation during crises
- Grassroots organizing enabling social movements (Correct answer)
- Addiction to social media platforms
Correct answer: Grassroots organizing enabling social movements
The internet enabled grassroots organizing and social movements that were not an original design goal but emerged as a positive societal outcome.
Question 4: A company collects user data without clearly disclosing how it will be used. Which principle of ethical data use does this violate?
- Scalability
- Transparency (Correct answer)
- Redundancy
- Interoperability
Correct answer: Transparency
Transparency requires that users are clearly informed about how their data is collected and used.
Question 5: The digital divide refers to which of the following?
- The gap between analog and digital storage capacity
- The difference in processing speed between computers
- Unequal access to technology and the internet across populations (Correct answer)
- The divide between open-source and proprietary software
Correct answer: Unequal access to technology and the internet across populations
The digital divide describes the gap between those who have access to technology and the internet and those who do not.
Question 6: A researcher publishes findings online under a Creative Commons license. Which aspect of the digital age does this BEST support?
- Increased cybersecurity threats
- Open access to knowledge and collaboration (Correct answer)
- Corporate data monetization
- Surveillance capitalism
Correct answer: Open access to knowledge and collaboration
Creative Commons licenses allow researchers to share knowledge openly, promoting collaboration and democratizing access to information.
Question 7: Which scenario BEST demonstrates the concept of 'surveillance capitalism'?
- A government monitoring known criminals
- A company selling user behavioral data to advertisers for profit (Correct answer)
- A bank encrypting customer financial records
- A school tracking student attendance
Correct answer: A company selling user behavioral data to advertisers for profit
Surveillance capitalism involves collecting and monetizing user data and behaviors as a primary business model.
APCSP Digital Impact 2
A social media platform uses an algorithm to decide which posts appear in a user's feed.
Which digital impact concern does this BEST illustrate?