Narcotizing dysfunction is a theory that as mass media inundates people on a particular issue, they become apathetic to it, substituting knowledge for action. It is suggested that the vast supply of communication Americans receive may elicit only a superficial concern with the problems of society.

Which of the following is an example of narcotizing dysfunction?

Example is the social networking site called Facebook. There are always advertisements when users are using the site. However, after seeing the same news for many times, this will cause narcotizing dysfunction where the users feel numb and indifference about the news they've seen repeatedly.

When was the narcotizing dysfunction of the media identified?

Narcotizing dysfunction was identified in the 1940s, and yet it remains a central concept to[Page 1161] mass communication theory. It surely is influential in understanding contemporary mass media culture based on 24/7 news cycles, live coverage, and continuous real-time updates.