Mass Society and Mass Communication

Modern society is given the name of “mass society” because of the important role played by the mass and its relatively homogeneous nature. The latter factor has been created in part by mass communication media, e.g., newspapers, radio and movies. The mass tends to acquire its rich knowledge, not from its own experience, but from what is communicated by mass media. The danger of totalitarianism arises, when mass media are monopolized, or controlled by the state, and used as means of power. It is from this viewpoint that the present article analysis and criticizes the social functions of mass communication.