GEN Z AND NEWS CONSUMPTION: SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIA TRUST AND PERCEPTION OF INFORMATION IN THE ITALIAN HYBRID MEDIA ENVIRONMENT

This research project investigates the news consumption habits of Generation Z (born between 1996 and 2012) and their perceptions of what news is within the Italian hybrid media environment. As the first generation to grow up with the Internet and social media as integral parts of everyday life, Gen Z is often described as “digital natives.” Their continuous exposure to a digitalized world has deeply influenced not only how they access and consume information, but also how they define and value it. Understanding their news repertoires is therefore crucial for assessing broader transformations in journalism and the media system.

The project situates Gen Z within a theoretical framework that views generations as both demographic and social constructs, shaped by shared historical experiences, cultural conditions, and stages of life. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z did not need to adapt to a digital world but was born into it, which distinguishes their media practices and perceptions of news. Their patterns of news consumption are more fluid, fragmented, and platform-dependent, often blurring the boundaries between news and other types of content. Investigating these dynamics contributes to clarifying how generational shifts are reshaping news in a hybrid media system such as Italy’s, where traditional outlets like television remain strong but digital and social media play an increasingly central role.

Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-method design. A first phase of quantitative analysis, drawing on existing datasets, will map overall trends in Gen Z’s news repertoires. This will be followed by qualitative interviews and focus groups with different age cohorts of Gen Z, aimed at exploring their practices and experiences in depth. The project aims at providing a nuanced portrait of how Gen Z interact with and perceive news, and how their practices are impacting the Italian media landscape.