An unavoidable convenience

How post-millennials engage with the news that finds them on social and mobile media

Bibliographic Data

ID7477963
AuthorsAnne Oeldorf-Hirsch (0000-0002-3961-3766, University of Connecticut, corresponding author), Preeti Srinivasan (University of Connecticut)
Year2021
Volume23
Issue9
Pages1939-1954
Publication date2021-01-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-8849 • E-ISSN: 1741-3001
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1464884921990251
OpenAlexW3125770090
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited33

The growing reliance on social media via mobile devices is changing how individuals obtain, engage with, and learn from news content. Based on the cognitive mediation model of learning from the news, this study qualitatively explores this three-step process of news exposure, engagement, and knowledge via digital media. Focus group discussions with post-Millennials ( N = 60) and thematic analysis of the results reveal several tensions. Participants see social media as imperfect but unavoidably convenient ways to get news, and they find the personalised news content available to be both a benefit and a drawback. They show a general hesitation to engage publicly with news content, opting mostly to passively observe others’ discussions on social media. Finally, they feel that social media give them a sense of awareness of current events, but do not prompt deeper learning about news topics

Advertising · Business · Focus group · Mediation · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

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