Final answer:
Media serves as a key source of entertainment and a means of connecting people, offering pleasurable leisure activities and enabling communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The manifest function of media, particularly technologies like smartphones and media servers, is entertainment. These technologies serve as platforms where various forms of entertainment such as television shows, movies, online gaming, and social networking take place, fulfilling our desire for enjoyment and leisure.
Moreover, media serves an essential role in connecting people. It is an instrument of communication that bridges individuals and societies, enabling both social interactions and commercial exchanges. In this context, social media platforms are especially significant as they are widely used for sharing information, experiences, and fostering community.
Lastly, in the sociological realm, media and technology can be analyzed from various perspectives. Functionalists would focus on the societal functions these technologies serve. However, interactionists might delve into understanding the reality constructed by these platforms, contrasting it with actual lived experiences.
Thus, media and technology are acknowledged for their pervasive influence on our lives, potentially affecting society's progress and individuals' social behavior.