More than a third of the population perceives themselves as unsought and unheard in media portrayals
In a recent study conducted by media authorities, the Info-Monitor, it was revealed that younger generations in Germany are extensively using social media but display a higher level of skepticism towards traditional media sources. This trend, coupled with feelings of political underrepresentation, has led to a significant difference in information behavior, media trust, and satisfaction with democracy across age groups.
The study, which surveyed over 3,500 people online from July to August 2024 and from October to November 2024, highlighted that younger citizens (under 30) rely heavily on social media as an information source. However, they find it less trustworthy compared to established media. On the other hand, older adults generally trust traditional media more and express relatively higher satisfaction with democratic institutions.
The research also uncovered that social narratives and context critically influence how people search for information across ages. Adolescents and adults show different patterns of motivated information searching, which can impact how media content is interpreted and trusted.
Political scientists emphasize that younger citizens feel underrepresented and less responsive in democratic processes, which may feed into their media skepticism and affect democratic satisfaction. This finding underscores the need for reforms to improve responsiveness to younger citizens' interests and the potential to address skepticism by enhancing media literacy and representation.
Interestingly, the study found a clear correlation between trust in media and satisfaction with democracy. Those who are convinced by established media, such as public broadcasting and daily newspapers, tend to be satisfied with democracy in Germany. Conversely, skeptics or those who reject media often express system-critical views.
The Info-Monitor, which is representative of the German-speaking population aged 14 and above, also revealed that for opinion formation, scientists are the most important for 89% of respondents. For all offers and channels outside of public broadcasting and daily newspapers, non-targeted information usage prevails.
YouTube emerged as the clear leader among social media platforms, outpacing WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook as an information channel. Cross-media information behavior was also queried in the Info-Monitor, replacing and further developing the media weighting study, which had been conducted since 2009.
Among AfD voters, journalistically led editorial teams, politicians, and parties have significantly less relevance than among those with other party preferences. More than half of the respondents find social media sensational, emotional, and interest-driven.
The study also found that four out of ten respondents said their information usage behavior has changed in the last five years, mainly due to increased use of the internet and digital media. For all these reasons, the Info-Monitor's findings underscore the importance of understanding and addressing the unique information needs and media preferences of different age groups in Germany.
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