Which device is considered the first electronic "mass communication" tool?

The telegraph is recognized as the first electronic "mass communication" tool because it revolutionized long-distance communication by transmitting messages in an encoded format over wires. Developed in the early 19th century, the telegraph allowed for the rapid exchange of information across vast distances, which was a significant leap from previous communication methods that relied on physical transportation of messages.

While the telephone, radio, and television are all significant communication devices that followed the telegraph, they each serve different functions and were developed later. The telephone facilitated one-on-one voice communication, while the radio and television helped disseminate information to large audiences but came about after the telegraph had already established the groundwork for electronic communication. As such, the telegraph holds the distinction of being the first to transform communication into a more immediate and widespread phenomenon, paving the way for many forms of mass communication that would follow.