According to symbolic interactionists, functionalists and conflict theorists both underestimate the extent to which the audiences resist and shape the messages they are receiving.

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Symbolic interactionists argue that audience members actively interpret and negotiate the meaning of media messages, while functionalists and conflict theorists tend to view audiences as passive receivers or manipulable targets of media content. Therefore, symbolic interactionists believe that both functionalists and conflict theorists underestimate the role of audience agency in shaping and resisting media messages.

According to Symbolic Interactionists, Functionalists and Conflict Theorists Both Underestimate