Mass Media and Mass Social Theory

Michael Jennings Sociology 40 Discussion Section C Over the last two centuries, many new forms of media have been introduced into society. Two of these mediums, the telegraph and the internet have had very profound effects on society, but were these effects positive or negative? Social theorists have always had two distinct visions when it comes to the introduction of new media; one, a utopia where mass media is used to spread ideas and understanding and …

…Mass media has helped bring about radical social changes that may not have been possible without it. There will always be fringe mass media: the trashy talk shows, the celebrity rumor mills, the pornography. But in the end, does that detract from the potency of the internet or the legitimacy of TV? No, but because mass media leads the way forward, those backward and behind the times will always adapt to it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** none