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http://dx.doi.org/10.1633/JISTaP.2022.10.2.1

News Consumption and Behavior of Young Adults and the Issue of Fake News  

Nazari, Zeinab (Information Technology and Learning, University of Gothenburg)
Oruji, Mozhgan (Information Science and Epistemology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch)
Jamali, Hamid R. (School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University)
Publication Information
Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice / v.10, no.2, 2022 , pp. 1-16 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study aimed to understand young adults' attitudes concerning news and news resources they consumed, and how they encounter the fake news phenomenon. A qualitative approach was used with semi-structured interviews with 41 young adults (aged 20-30) in Tehran, Iran. Findings revealed that about half of the participants favored social media, and a smaller group used traditional media and only a few maintained that traditional and modern media should be used together. News quality was considered to be lower on social media than in traditional news sources. Furthermore, young adults usually followed the news related to the issues which had impact on their daily life, and they typically tended to share news. To detect fake news, they checked several media to compare the information; and profiteering and attracting audiences' attention were the most important reasons for the existence of fake news. This is the first qualitative study for understanding news consumption behavior of young adults in a politicized society.
Keywords
news consumption; fake news; news behavior; young adults;
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