Define the terms mass media and public opinion, and explain how the mass media affect public opinion.

Mass media is the means through which information is passed through to different places through the use of technology.

Public opinion is the opinion of the majority of the common people about anything.

Since mass media is the major source of information, it reaches a lot of people in a short time which in turn influence the opinion of the majority of the people.

Explanation:

Mass media can be defined as the numerous ways of technological advancements that spread and reach a number of people through mass communication. Public opinion, on the the hand, is the desires, thinking and wants of the majority of the common people.

Mass media, nowadays, is the major form of spreading awareness and information to a lot of people,This means of communication led to the easy and fast flow of any news that needed to be spread out. And since it is capable of reaching the majority of people, the news or information that it propagates will be all the more easily accepted by the people. This enables the mass media to be the very source of information, thus swaying the opinion of the public in its side. So, when the majority of the people get their information from the mass media, they perceive their knowledge and opinions based on them. This led to the influence of mass media in the majority opinion of the common masses.

new communications technology has affected the way social movements are organized because nowadays, social movements rely on social networks and the media to get different people with a similar way of thinking in contact, and thus, get them to mobilize for a greater cause.

individuals only participate in collective action when they feel identified with it. is in this aspect that social media becomes relevant, because it guarantees communication among all individuals and organizes the social actions that are going to be carried out, i.e., the social movements.

in addition, being covered by the media is important to validate the message and make it relevant in the social agenda, as well as to reach more people who can share interests, appealing to public sympathy for their cause.

in conclusion, it is by social networks and social media that social movement is given birth; by connecting different individuals with similar ideas and organizing them to mobilize for a greater cause.