Hypodermic Needle Theory

The Hypodermic Needle Theory suggests that mass media, such as TV, radio, or newspapers, have a direct and powerful influence on people's thoughts and behaviors, like a needle injecting a substance into a person's arm. It assumes that audiences are passive and will automatically accept and be affected by the media message. This theory was more common in early media studies but is now considered overly simplistic, as people often interpret media content differently based on individual experiences, critical thinking, and context.