The term "junk culture" refers to a popular culture that is characterized by shallow, low-quality and mass produced forms of entertainment. It suggests that much of contemporary popular culture consists of disposable or valueless items such as fast food, tabloid journalism, reality TV shows, and other forms of media that are designed for quick consumption and easy digestion without any intellectual depth or artistic merit. The phrase is often used in a pejorative sense to criticize the perceived decline of cultural standards and values in modern society.