What is uses and gratifications theory, and how would it apply to watching news about protests?

• A. It explains why audiences passively accept messages.
• B. It explains why audiences seek media to satisfy needs (information, identity, entertainment); for protests, viewers may seek validation, moral guidance, or social connection.
• C. It asserts that media shapes reality without audience agency.
• D. It claims audiences avoid social connections when consuming protest news.

Answer: (B)

Uses and gratifications theory looks at why people actively seek out media and how it fulfills their needs. It treats audiences as active agents who choose content to satisfy specific wants—information, personal or group identity, entertainment, or social connection—instead of passively absorbing messages.

Applied to watching news about protests, this theory suggests viewers might pick protest coverage to stay informed, to validate their own beliefs or values, to find moral guidance on how to respond, or to feel connected with others who share their views. Because people bring different needs and backgrounds to their media use, two viewers might watch the same footage for different reasons or interpret what they see in distinct ways.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: this theory doesn’t portray audiences as passive recipients who simply absorb messages. It also isn’t about media shaping reality without audience interpretation or agency. And it doesn’t imply people avoid social connections; rather, social bonding and community can be key motivations for engaging with protest news.