Generation Z and social media: An analysis of news consumption by Communication students in South Florida (USA)

Abstract

This research examines the news consumption in the context of social network sites by Communication university students in South Florida (United States of America), analyzing their habits, motivations, and perceptions within the context of a rapidly evolving media ecosystem. The research, based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, explores how this Generation Z satisfies their informational needs in the digital environment. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines 243 surveys of students, a focus group with nine graduates on Communication, and nine in-depth interviews with legacy media executives. The results reveal that the majority of students prefer to get informed through social network sites, spending several hours a day on these platforms, with Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube being the most popular. Paradoxically, although they trust legacy media more and recognize their higher standard of professionalism and ethics compared to other online content, they barely consume them, limiting themselves to incidental or indirect use. Graduates show similar patterns, with predominantly digital consumption, though they demonstrate a more critical attitude toward information on social media. Meanwhile, media professionals acknowledge the technological skills and digital fluency of Generation Z as valuable assets in modern newsrooms but identify significant deficiencies in traditional journalistic skills, expressing concerns about source verification, depth of research, and the ability to contextualize information. The study concludes that Generation Z is significantly transforming the media landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the journalism industry.