Blog Post 5 Things Younger Generation Wants From the News! (compelling)
Millennials and Generation Z – The younger generation wishes to become more conscious and involved in society. Their desire for “more” is unquenchable. As a member of the younger generation, I am well aware of the wealth of information available to us, and how we select which sources to absorb it from.
We don’t want to spend hours sitting in front of a 20-page newspaper. We don’t have enough patience or the time for it. What we want is for the news to keep up with us. In other words, more information in less time.
According to a recent study by Statista, millennials get 43% of their news from social media and get as low as 11% from newspapers.
What is it about social media that makes us prefer it to other platforms? Let’s take a look at what Gen Z and millennials desire from the news.
Trust, Trust, and Trust
The most important quality that the younger generation seeks is trust, and believe me, when I say that gaining their trust is difficult. The older generation relies primarily on news networks, failing to realize that the vast majority of them are rigged. Every news outlet has its motive, which is funded by outside sources. This is something that the younger generation is well-versed with and understands. They want information that they can rely on.
This is when social media comes in handy. It not only includes multiple sources of the same news, but it is also authentic and unaltered.
Easily Accessible
They lack time. They want to read through their feeds, watch movies, have chats, and stay up with the latest trends and events in the world. All of this leaves them with very little time to read the news. That’s why people want information that’s simple to find. Apps are extremely useful in this situation. They have constant access to news thanks to pop-up notifications.
While reading headlines is sufficient sometimes, some prefer applications that provide a brief 30 second summary of the news. Perfect for those with a hectic schedule!
Short Videos and Social Media
Short videos are appealing to the younger generation and are the ideal format for them. It may easily hold their attention and provide a lot of information without becoming monotonous.
“ I don’t usually have much time, so 30 to 60-second videos are ideal. I can easily watch them while on the train or subway to work”
Yash ( Gen Z)
Vice videos are excellent examples of this type of video. News organizations are increasingly using social media channels like Instagram reels and Snapchat to appeal to a younger readership.
Among them, Twitter and Facebook are also highly popular. Since our phones are the first thing we pick up after we wake up, social media apps and news apps become the primary source of information.
Neutrality
It is critical to hear both sides of the narrative. They want to know both sides’ rights and wrongs. They don’t simply follow someone blindly. Twitter is, in my opinion, the ideal medium for this. You can quickly follow hashtags and read both sides’ points of view. This also aids in the prevention of the spread of false information.
Relatability
Cookies aid in the display of only the most relevant news. It saves us time by eliminating the need to hunt for relevant news. When you start Google Chrome, you’ll see a long list of news items depending on our prior searches and clicks. As a result, social media functions as our personalized newspaper, tailored only for you, with no two editions ever being the same!
Pitch
Millennials and Gen Z, contrary to popular opinion, are concerned. They are aware of the situation and are on the lookout for new information. They seek out news sources that they can trust and rely on. Their main necessity is easy to access. They want to make the most of every second of their free time. The most popular news outlets are social media and news applications.
