Final answer:
The correct answer is true; the media sometimes employs fear as a tactic to influence the masses. This approach can alter perceptions and reactions to events, while also playing a significant role in the socialization process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'The media sometimes uses fear to motivate the masses to do something or act in a certain way' is true. Media outlets can employ marketing means that influence the beliefs of their consumers, sometimes resulting in manipulation.
This practice can lead to false narratives which, in turn, may normalize hatred, desensitize people to violence, and create divisions within society. Moreover, it can breed suspicion towards political institutions while making civil institutions appear more credible.
Research has shown that extensive media coverage of events, like crimes or terrorist attacks, can lead people to have an exaggerated perception of the frequency and likelihood of these events, causing heightened fear and concern.
Additionally, through framing and priming, media has the power to cultivate our reality and influence our perceptions of the world, potentially changing our reactions to subsequent information. This is particularly evident in the spread of misinformation through social media platforms, which has contributed to various crises globally.