The act of coming to know something
Two type of cognitive function :
Using the media
1. to keep up with information on current events
2. to learn about things in general or things that relate to a person's general curiosity
(parallel to the surveillance function of media)
Three forms :
1. Stimulation, or seeking relief from boredom or the routine activities of everyday life
2. Relaxation, or escape from the presure and problems of day-to-day existence
3. Emotional release of pent-up emotion and energy
Conversational currency
The mass media provide a common ground for social conversations, talk with others
Parasocial relationship
Audiences develop feelings of kinship and friendship with media characters.
Audiences might react to the characters as their actual friend.
Human needs to escape from certain activities.
Some use the mass media to crate a barrier between themselves and other people or other activities.