Socialized for News Media Use: How Family Communication, Information-Processing Needs, and Gratifications Determine Adolescents’ Exposure to News

Abstract

Adolescence is a key period in the development of individuals’ news habits, but little is known about the processes involved in the process of news media socialization. This study proposes an integrated model in which the influence of family communication on motivations and behaviors of adolescents in relation to news consumption occurs through the development of personality traits related to information processing (namely, need for cognition and need to evaluate). Structural equation modeling of data from a representative survey of 2,273 adolescents, aged 13 to 17, provide support for the theorized model, such that concept-oriented communication within families is associated to news exposure indirectly, via personality traits and motivations. Thus, the study provides an initial assessment of one way children are socialized to become news enthusiasts and news avoiders. It also provides empirical evidence that information-processing traits are influenced by family communication patterns, confirming what hitherto was theoretical speculation.

Permanently online and permanently connected: Development and validation of the Online Vigilance Scale

“…Online vigilance may also be measured as a moderator of media effects, since people high in online vigilance may respond differently from users low in online vigilance, for example, with regard to elaboration strength [ 91 ] or affective responses to breaking news [ 92 ]. The measure of online vigilance may also serve as a dependent variable, that is, online vigilance may be seen as a relevant outcome to be explained: Research on the adoption of communication innovations [ 93 ] or on developmental processes of media socialization [ 94 ] are just two examples of research areas that could benefit from addressing online vigilance as a relevant outcome variable in future studies.…”

Internet Use and Political Interest: Growth Curves, Reinforcing Spirals, and Causal Effects During Adolescence

“…Research into the process of political socialization shows that several other (communicative) factors influence the development of political norms, attitudes, and behavior, such as family communication patterns (Ritchie & Fitzpatrick, 1990) or parental mediation (Weintraub & Pinkleton, 2001), but also personality traits (Valenzuela, Bachmann, & Aguilar, 2016), and differential media use (Moeller & de Vreese, 2013). In particular, political content presented as entertainment is likely to trigger young audiences to become engaged and seek out additional information (Xenos & Becker, 2009).…”

Does Skepticism Predict News Media Literacy: A Study on Turkish Young Adults

“…According to her, the proliferation of digital media has created a democratization effect where blogs, social media, and wikis give anyone access to information instantly. Media-especially digital platforms-are central to identity formation, social relationships, and life outside school (Valenzuela, Bachmann & Aguilar, 2016) and are more pervasive now than ever before. Scholars note that young adults (age 18-25) spend a majority of their waking hours with technology (Vaterlaus, Patten, Roche, & Young, 2015).…”

“…The continuing decline of legacy media, especially print newspapers, coupled with the proliferation of entertainment media, has raised concerns over the future of news audiences and the expectation of an informed citizenry (Valenzuela et al, 2016). With the heavy influence of advertising, corporate agendas, and entertainment in traditional news, along with the inaccurate information often found in online news sources, navigating media messages can be difficult.…”

“…News greatly facilitates the functioning of democracy, and therefore such audience activities as news consumption, civic engagement, democratic participation, and active citizenship are possibly promoted by news media literacy (Ashley, Maksl, & Craft, 2013). Also prior research suggests that; different family, social, and psychological variables influence the behavior of media audiences, making them more or less inclined to consume news and follow the journalistic content that news media provide (Valenzuela et al, 2016).…”