drawbacks of the uses and grattification theory

Blumler and Katz’s uses and gratification theory suggests that media users play an active role in choosing and using the media. Users take an active part in the communication process and are goal oriented in their media use. The theorists say that a media user seeks out a media source that best fulfills the needs of the user. Uses and gratifications assume that the user has alternate choices to satisfy their need.

Almost every theory has its drawbacks and weaknesses. And the theory of uses and gratification is no exception and one weakness of this theory is that it presents the media as being good and also talks about only the positive sides of the media. A drawback of this theory is that some of the content presented to us are mostly from the western countries and with this, the youth copy the lifestyle of the westerners like bad eating habits, the way they talk. The audience do not always choose what they want. The public has no control over the media and what it produces. It can also be said to be too kind to the media, as they are being 'let off the hook' and do not need to take responsibility for what they produce.