As a society, we've all grown accustomed to using our phones for just about everything. Need to check the weather? Want to listen to music? Want to do some shopping? There’s an app for that. 

As we find ourselves relying on our palm-sized devices for literally everything, it comes as no surprise that many of us get our news from here as well — specifically Gen Zers. 

Eager to know more about how these youngsters are altering news consumption as we know it? media update's Taylor Goodman delves deeper here. 

Let’s investigate: 

Where does Gen Z get their news from?  

If you know a Gen Zer or fit into the demographic yourself, you know just how digitally savvy they are. Rightfully so as they are the first generation that has grown up alongside the Internet and the many technological advancements that have stemmed from it. 

As the youngest in this generation are nearing adolescence (Gen Zers are currently 10 to 25 years old), they are growing in their awareness of the world around them. For this reason, they are more likely to now take an interest in news and current affairs. 

And how do they get this news, you ask? Straight from their smartphones, of course! This, however, isn't unforeseen as the average person spends three hours and 15 minutes on their phones per day. 

What many didn't see coming is how social media would be the main news source for younger groups. This is proven as 51% of Gen Z teens and 33% of Gen Z adults receive their news from their social feed or messaging services, according to Deloitte.  

These youngsters use YouTube and Tiktok to get their news fix.

One might think that because platforms like Twitter allow for users to consume snippets of content here and there — or even use it to stay tapped in on breaking news — that it would be the preferred social network. But to make this assumption would be to disregard Gen Z’s inclination to video

YouTube and TikTok allows these users to watch shorter, summarised videos that give them an overview of the situation — enabling them to keep up with what's happening in the news while on the move. 

Explaining this shift in news consumption 

It's clear that Gen Zers prioritise being socially conscious, thus they do care about staying clued in on news. They just want to do it on their own terms. 

These youngsters are busybodies and incredibly digitally savvy, so it makes sense that they prefer easily consumable content, like short-form videos. As a society, we are all influenced by this generation's usage habits as they are slowly but surely shaping digital consumption trends. 

Sure, Millennials have had their fair share of pull regarding media trends, but they are also more inclined to a hybrid approach of traditional and digital news consumption. 

Gen Y is equally as tied to their mobile devices, but where Gen Zers would turn to social media and messaging apps for information, Millennials are more likely to use their smartphones to access news via apps or their mobile browser

Millennials also differ in the platforms they gravitate towards in the event where they are using social platforms for news, usually favouring Facebook above all. 

So, if you’re wondering how Gen Z is reshaping news consumption when Millenials had their hand in the pot first, the short answer is that they’re digital natives. They live and breathe social media. This will continue to impact all areas of their life — and consequently, everyone else's as they grow in influence. 

Where do you get your news and which generation are you from? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

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Want to learn more about Gen Z and media consumption? Then check out The type of reporting that journalists should do for Gen Z.
*Image courtesy of Unsplash