Final answer:
It is false that anthropologists have avoided studying mass media for being too controversial; they have actually shown increasing interest since the 1990s, and a subdiscipline of media anthropology has emerged.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that anthropologists have avoided studying aspects of the mass media because the study is too controversial is false. In fact, since the early 1990s, anthropologists have developed a growing interest in mass media, which has led to the emergence of media anthropology as a subdiscipline. This interest is not only academic but also holistic in nature, extending to understanding how mass media shape and are shaped by social conditions, cultural forces, and sociocultural life itself, including the digital realm.
Media anthropologists conduct research across various genres of media, including news, photography, radio, television, and the Internet, and study their integration into sociocultural practices. By examining how different media forms intersect with economic, political, and religious spheres, and issues of gender, ethnicity, and identity, anthropologists gain a comprehensive view of media's roles in modern societies.
Furthermore, anthropologists explore not only traditional forms of media but also new digital platforms, recognizing their significance in social interactions and the formation of collective identities. Researching how digital media, like social networking and blogging, contribute to new forms of sociality, anthropologists offer insights into the profound changes brought about by the proliferation of media technologies.