Defining and measuring the effects of digital technologies on social sustainability: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The impact of digital technologies on the environmental and economic sides of sustainability has received considerable attention. In contrast, the societal implications are quite under‐researched. Through a systematic literature review, we describe the current status of the research on the impacts that digital technologies have on social sustainability. We pay particular attention to methods used for assessing and measuring these impacts. One positive observation made from our descriptive (bibliometric) analysis is that there is an increasing interest in social sustainability. Our content analysis identified four categories, namely “Area of Impact,” “Approach to technology,” “Measured/Measurable Effect,” and “Measuring Methods”, accumulating 30 labels, which we use to classify the papers at study. A quite common label is “Jobs” as the area of impacts, whereas the least used label in the approach to technology category is “Cyber‐security,” signaling that few papers that investigate the impacts of digital technologies on social sustainability consider their security and privacy implications. Other gaps that we expose are the lack of empirical data as well as the lack of mathematical modeling when measuring the effects of digital technologies, with direct experiments appearing very seldom in the literature. In an attempt to provide a guide for future research, we identify five general research gaps, listing 20 specific research questions, and propose a structuring procedure for articles on social implications of digital technologies to be produce in a more systematic manner.

Data privacy and security challenges in environmental research: Approaches to safeguarding sensitive information

“…DETAILED DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Evaluating the Impact of Data Privacy and Security Measures Szalkowski and Johansen (2023) explore the effects of digital technologies on social sustainability, highlighting the under-researched societal implications of data privacy and security measures. Through a systematic literature review, they identify an increasing interest in social sustainability and the critical role of cybersecurity in safeguarding digital technologies.…”

“…These studies illustrate the significant impact of data privacy and security measures on environmental research and broader societal and environmental sustainability goals. From the need for robust data governance frameworks to the challenges of measuring ICT impacts and addressing cybersecurity threats in emerging technologies, the insights offered by Szalkowski andJohansen (2023), andMuhammad et al (2023) underscore the critical importance of advancing data privacy and security measures. As environmental research continues to leverage technological advancements, addressing these concerns will be paramount in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring the ethical conduct of research.…”

The relationship between green innovation and sustainable growth in Korean companies: Moderated mediation effect of ESG score by industry

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