Massification

We explain what overcrowding is, with different examples of what can be overcrowded. In addition, we tell you the origin of the term.

What is massification?

The massification It is the process by which something that was not previously massive becomes massive or multitudinous. When it is said that something has become “massified”, it means that it has multiplied, become popular or has been made available to the masses, that is, to the greatest number of people possible.

The term massification comes from the verb massify and this in turn of the noun massof Greek origin. In classical antiquity the Greek voice was used madza to refer to barley bread, which was given shape and consistency with the hands (knead). However, the comedian Aristophanes (444-385 BC) already used it to refer to a large number of people, comparing it to the dough of a cake. This metaphorical use became popular centuries later in the Latin voice massa. The current political connotation of the word “masses”, however, arose as a result of the French Revolution of 1789.

Today, one can speak of massification in various contexts, especially with regard to the so-called “mass society.” This is what modern society was called since the end of the 19th century, since it was feared that in the future human beings would exist in it anonymously and undifferentiated, like atoms in matter.

This sociological concept changed during the 20th century following the emergence of “mass culture” of the media, given that for the first time in history public opinion could be formed (or influenced) quickly and globally, that is, massive.

For example, when talking about the massification of the Internet, reference is made to its appearance inside the homes of the majority of the population in many countries of the world, its incorporation into cell phones and telecommunications networks, and its use as a tool in a large number of bureaucratic, banking, personal and even political procedures. In short, since the last decade of the 20th century, the Internet has become massive, as its users have grown immensely in number.

See also: Mass media

Examples of massification

We can talk about “massification” in different areas, for example:

• The massification of information. Throughout history, information has become increasingly massive, that is, it has been able to reach more and more people in less time. This happened with the invention of the printing press, which made it possible to quickly and massively print texts that previously took months or even years to copy manually. This, in turn, allowed the appearance of the newspaper, capable of reaching a large number of readers every day, and later the appearance of even more sophisticated mechanisms such as radio and later television, through which the same word or image could reach to millions of people at the same time.
• The massification of education. While teaching has existed since ancient times, it was usually left to family members or instructors capable of teaching a few students at a time. This changed radically with the incorporation of modern educational systems, heirs of the Renaissance idea that all people could receive a basic education regardless of their origin, gender or social position. Thus, the massification of education in the West took place in the following centuries, as the State assumed control of civil affairs that previously belonged to the Church.
• The massification of social networks. Social networks, virtual spaces for personal exchange, emerged at the beginning of the 21st century and quickly became one of the most successful innovations brought by the Internet. Since the appearance of Flickr, Twitter and YouTube, around 2006, social networks have multiplied and so have their regular users. Today it is estimated that there are more than 4.97 billion social media users.

Continue with: Cultural globalization

References

• Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary. “Etymology of Mass.” Etymologies
• IGI Global. (sf). “What is massification”. Igi-global
• Royal Spanish Academy. (2022). Dictionary of the Spanish language. “Massify” RAE
• Rodriguez, J. (1978). The concept of massification. Its importance and perspectives for the analysis of higher education. UNESCO/ECLAC/UNDP.