Audience Theory: Blog Tasks

The Mail Online article links to the hypodermic needle model as it states that "Playing a violent video game for just an hour over a three-day period is enough to increase aggressive behaviour" which the only reason for this, if true at all is that the companies behind violent video games have clever marketing techniques and strategies to get more people addicted to video games such as Call of Duty. Game design companies such as Treyarch are under contract from even bigger companies who have the most power when it comes to decisions and the way the public sees the games. In this example I would say that the distribution and maker of the game are mostly responsible for the addiction as they're constantly adding new features and advertising wherever possible to make you want to keep playing. Furthermore as they inject this into an opinion leader (an example would be in the latest's COD live action trailer) Cara Delevingne is featured so it would be obvious that she tweets about this to the public and the model reaches it's recipient: the individual in social contact with the leader. 

The coverage of the TalkTalk hacking case relates well to the hypodermic needle model as the newspaper is able to go directly to the individuals that read them and it's very effective as the front page is what delivers the information before it's read. Many readers may be influenced by news which is the objective of the hypodermic needle. Someone may criticise this front page as the title is rather misleading with the word 'paralysed' but also the image makes the 15 year boy look worse than he is. In my opinion he did something right by exploiting the company for its flaws rather than being a criminal though the media will make him look bad to everyone else (e.g: black bar on face)

TotalHablibut fits into the 2 step flow model as he is considered as an important opinion leader to his large audience. His quantity of subscribers is dependant subjectively on his likeability and therefore his audience are dependant on him delivering his opinion which relates to the model. He mainly discuses problems in a variety of media but is not biased from anything and gives his opinion so he serves the model. His audience listen to what he has to say and they are the individuals.

Once again this similar to the YouTube example as it is exactly the same method of media interactions. The opinion leaders are of high authority in the media and give their thoughts on news and current affairs or simply just anything they like and the individuals consume them, with most agreeing with the leader as they like them which can have a great impact especially in politics.