How does two-step flow differ from a pure mass communication model?

• A. It suggests messages move directly to all individuals without intermediaries.
• B. It claims audiences are completely isolated from media messages.
• C. It posits information passes through opinion leaders who interpret and influence others, reducing pure mass effect.
• D. Media content is always reshaped by audiences before reaching others.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that media influence can be mediated rather than directly imposed on everyone. In a pure mass-communication model, messages are thought to reach a broad audience with direct effects. Two-step flow adds intermediaries: opinion leaders in social networks receive the media content, interpret or filter it, and then pass their interpreted version to others. This filtering and guidance means the influence isn’t a uniform, direct “mass effect” but rather is shaped by those leaders and their audiences. That’s why the statement about information moving through opinion leaders who interpret and influence others, reducing pure mass effects, best captures the difference.

The other descriptions imply either direct, unmediated reception, complete audience isolation, or universal audience reshaping by listeners, which doesn’t align with how two-step flow emphasizes the mediating role of opinion leaders.