Abstract: Digital economy is an important economic form which is formed by the wide application of information technology to promote economic structure transformation and economic growth. On the basis of reviewing the related literature on the connotation and characteristics of digital economy, this paper sorts out the literature on the influence of digital economy on social development from the micro, meso and macro levels. Literature analysis shows that digital technology is the core of digital economy, and its rapid development enables enterprises to transform digitally, which is helpful to optimize employment structure, enhance entrepreneurial activity and stimulate market consumption. At the same time, the promotion of digital technology can effectively promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure and the inclusive growth of economic system.The research on digital economy needs to be expanded in the following areas: first, the construction and perfection of theoretical framework; Second, the study of regional differences; Third, digital governance research.