Old Habits, New Platforms: Exploring the Age-group Divide in Romanian News Consumption

Abstract

Recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine, and elections have significantly transformed news engagement, often leading to information overload and pushing many individuals to disengage from traditional news channels in favor of algorithm-driven social media platforms. Understanding these shifts is important because of their implications for informed citizenry and its association with democracy. Given the context, the current study explores age-related differences in news consumption patterns among Romanian audiences using focus group discussions. The sample includes two age cohorts: younger adults (aged 20–30), or digital natives, and older adults (aged 55 and above), whose media habits were shaped before the digital era. Thematic analysis and natural language processing techniques revealed clear age-group distinctions. Main findings suggest that younger participants tend to consume news via social media platforms, favoring algorithmically curated, emotionally engaging, short-form content. They strategically avoid distressing or repetitive news content. On the other hand, older adults still rely on traditional media like television, emphasizing source credibility, comprehensive coverage, and civic responsibility. When asked about what a healthy media diet is, there are further generational contrasts. Younger individuals viewed media consumption as an individual responsibility. By contrast, older adults emphasized the collective responsibility of educational and institutional systems to guide news consumption practices. These findings highlight the profound impact of digital platforms on generational news consumption behaviors, emphasizing the need for tailored media literacy initiatives, journalism practices, and policy frameworks to address age-group divides and contribute to the emergence of a healthier information ecosystem.