Mass media refers to communication channels that reach large audiences, often numbering in the millions. For media to qualify as “mass,” it must be widely accessible both affordable, and understandable to the general population.
In modern Western societies, mass media include television, newspapers, radio, and the internet, all of which connect vast numbers of people and can disseminate information rapidly across regions and even globally. However, what counts as mass media varies greatly depending on infrastructure and access; for example, the internet is considered mass media in places with widespread electricity and connectivity but remains inaccessible and irrelevant in areas lacking basic utilities.
Mass media play a critical role in shaping public opinion, culture, and knowledge by delivering news, entertainment, advertising, and more to broad and diverse audiences in real time.