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Social media, television and the newspapers - which one of these do young people prefer as a source of information, and why?

By G D Ash Burn.

In this day and age, technology is fast becoming one of the most treasured possessions of the young and old alike. Thus, it is not surprising that the majority of young people prefer to obtain their information through the one thing that is common on all their smartphones; social media. Though there is no doubt that one can obtain information through other outlets, such as the television or the newspapers, a young person prefers social media due to its accessibility, convenience and variety.

First of all, accessibility is the most crucial factor when a young person is choosing his preferred source of information. Social media is chosen because young people can access it at any time and anywhere. We live in an age where the youths keep their smartphones on them at all times, enabling them to simply pick up their phones to have the whole world at their fingertips. This is especially useful when the young are in the mood for morning news at the crack of dawn, when the newspaper shops are not even open. Without having to switch on the television, they can simply turn to their phones and read up on all that had happened while they were asleep. Social media also alerts them of any special occasions, like a friend’s birthday, that simply cannot be made available through general sources of information like the newspapers or the television. Thus, to the young, it makes a world of difference when they are able to know almost anything and everything through their phones and social media.

Another factor that is considered is the convenience of obtaining the source of information. While a young person can easily be prompted with news updates through Facebook or Twitter, if one wanted to have the news on television, he would have to pay his service provider additional charges for the extra news channels, just to obtain information that would be easily provided through social media. It is also important to note that it takes time to flip through newspapers and read every single article in a newspaper, inconveniencing not only the young person reading it, but also others around him, due to the bulky nature of newspapers. It is much more convenient for the youth to bring around their light, slim and compact smartphones so that they can obtain information through social media without the extra weight. Thus, rather than sitting at home in front of the television waiting to get information, the youth can carry on with their daily commute while obtaining information through social media.

Last but certainly not least is the variety of information that the young can obtain through social media. While newspapers limit their information to the current happenings around the world, social media is able to tell the youth everything, from Donald Trump’s latest tweets to how to make a 100-layered lasagna. This variety of information available through social media cannot be compared to other sources of information because the newspapers and television were simply not made to appeal to one’s specific interests. The very reason behind the success of social media is the manufactured algorithm that shows the youth what they want to see. If the young person is interested in videos of cute cats, that is what he will see. If the young person is interested in the recent Brett Kavanaugh hearings, he will see news regarding that issue. Social media is engineered to show people what they like and that is what makes these platforms the chosen source of information among young people.

Some people might say that obtaining information through social media is a surefire way of falling prey to fake news and hate speeches. However, as I have mentioned earlier, the one thing that young people crave is the touch of personalisation that will never be obtained through a factual newspaper or the television. While the television will show you the latest celebrity scandals , you will still have to flip through the channels to find what you want. Young people nowadays are all about living the fast-paced life and they simply will not be able to get the same level of customization available through social media from newspapers or through television. It is also notable that while newspapers mostly report the truth as they work based on facts that their journalists find, television channels, much like social media, are also capable of making people fall prey to fake news and hate speeches, through channels in America such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Fox News which regularly employ conspiracy theorists to entice people to continue watching. Thus, if a young person had to choose between these sources of information, he would certainly choose social media.

All in all, there are many reasons why young people prefer social media as a source of information. Due to factors like accessibility, convenience and variety, they are more willing to get their daily dose of information from social media, rather than from the newspapers and television. Though they might be at risk of falling prey to fake news, it is a risk they are willing to take due to the personalisation that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

(862 words)
G D Ash Burn
3 Respect - 2018

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