Lecture 4 - Mass + Social Media Flashcards
Define mass media.
Communication technologies that transmit info from few sources to many people (geared for the masses/mass communication)
Ex. Radio, print, TV
Define social media.
Apps/Websites that allow people to interact/facilitate social interaction (many sources to one/few/many people)
What are the 3 factors that caused the rise of mass media?
- Religious –> The Protestant Reformation (16th century)
- Promoted mass literacy (Reading the Bible instead of relying on priests to read it)
- Printing press (invented by Johann Gutenberg, 1436) aided the process - Political –> Democratic movements (18th century)
- Mass involvement in politics demanded mass literacy (Informed citizenry) - Economic –> Capitalist industrialization (19th century)
- Literate workforce + rapid communication was needed
How do functionalists view the effects of mass media?
- Mass media coordinates the operation of industrial/post-industrial societies
- Mass media are agents of socialization
- Social control (ensures conformity)
- Provides entertainment
Core values serve everyone
How do conflict theorists view the effects of mass media?
- Broadcasts beliefs/values/ideas that create the basis of society
- Ownership is concentrated + highly profitable for those who do have ownership (Economic inequality)
- Most media is American, even on Canadian networks
- Media conglomerates (Ex. Rogers) can control what’s being pushed/shown
Core values serve the powerful/dominant
(Conflict theory) What are the 3 biasing mechanisms?
- Advertising –> to draw in as many viewers as possible
- Sourcing –> press releases, news conferences, interviews organized by corporations/agencies
- Flak –> attacking journalists who don’t agree with corporate POVs
How do symbolic interactionists view the effects of mass media?
Cultural studies - focus on the cultural meanings + audience interpretation of mass media messages
- Effect is different depending on age, gender, etc.
How do feminists view the effects of mass media?
- Women tend to be stereotyped in the media, but consumers (women) actively interpret them based on class/attitudes
Define media imperialism.
Domination of a mass medium by a single national culture + the undermining of other national cultures
Define online piracy.
Downloading of copyrighted material for free
Define net neutrality.
The principle that ISPs shouldn’t restrict access to any online content
What 3 things does social media affect?
- Identity —> how ppl. see themselves
- Positives: Assertiveness, coming out, etc.
- Negatives: Behaviour that might discourage potential employers (hence the use of finstas) - Social relations –> connections ppl. form w/ others
- Used to augment face-to-face communication, yet the depth + quality of these communications may be going down - Social activism –> the way in which ppl. seek to cause social change
- Allows for awareness to be spread further, yet some countries monitor social media + activism can be performative
What is the social media business model?
- App delivers doses of pleasure for free
- Dopamine is delivered
- Addiction ensues
- App collects + analyzes data
- App sells data to advertisers + marketers
- Companies get rich
- Companies invest in home surveillance (New products)
What are the 4 consequences of social media?
- Neglect of loved ones (Parents neglecting children)
- Decreased capacity to focus (Shrinking attention span)
- Increased political polarization (Threatening democracy)
- Increased anxiety + depression (Cyberbullying, unrealistic standards, etc.)
Explain how governments exercise political control through the Internet, using China, the US and India as examples.
China –> monitors content it deems threatening
USA –> XKeyscore to surveil digital communication
India –> most Internet shutdowns (to stop protests)
