Age and digital news: analysis of interest and informational use of social media in Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26441/RC25.1-2026-4259Keywords:
news interest, sources of news, news media firms, digital audiences, social mediaAbstract
Purpose. This study analyzes whether there are generational differences in interest in the news, the informational use of major social networks, and the type of sources chosen by audiences in Mexico on each network analyzed (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter (X), TikTok, and Instagram). Methodology. Based on a representative survey (n = 1,998), mean comparison tests (ANOVA and Duncan post hoc) and non-parametric analyses (Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn-Bonferroni) were conducted. Results and conclusions. The data show significant differences in interest in the news across generations (lower among younger people) and in their informational use of Facebook and YouTube (also lower among younger groups). Likewise, the analysis of the type of sources chosen to stay informed on each social network varies significantly by age group: people over 65 consume more journalistic media and content from political actors on YouTube and Facebook, young people aged 18 to 24 more frequently turn to influencers and celebrities on Twitter, and the 25 to 34 age group prefers celebrities and ordinary people on Instagram. Original contribution. This pioneering study analyzes the informational use of social networks and the sources followed by different generations in Mexico. It demonstrates that age is a structuring factor of interest and news consumption habits on social media and shapes differentiated patterns of relationships with professional journalism and alternative sources of information.
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