A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

What do Marxists believe social media reinforces?

1. Class consciousness

2. False consciousness

3. Social mobility

4. Cultural exchange

The correct answer is: False consciousness

Marxists believe that social media reinforces false consciousness, a concept that refers to a way of thinking that prevents individuals from seeing the true nature of their social situation, particularly in relation to class struggles and exploitation. From a Marxist perspective, false consciousness arises when the marginalized segments of society are misled about their own interests and the realities of their conditions. In the context of social media, Marxists argue that these platforms often promote consumerism and distract individuals from understanding the socio-economic structures that oppress them. Instead of fostering a critical awareness of class disparities and encouraging collective action for change, social media can perpetuate individualism and superficial concerns that detract from collective consciousness regarding class issues. This aligns with the idea that social media, while appearing to democratize information and give a voice to the oppressed, actually serves to reinforce the dominant ideologies that maintain existing power hierarchies. Supporting this notion, the other options do not align with Marxist theory as closely. For example, class consciousness would involve a collective awareness and understanding of one’s class position, which contrasts with the idea of false consciousness. Similarly, social mobility and cultural exchange typically suggest upward movement or positive interactions across cultural lines, which do not inherently fit within the Marxist