Generational Perspectives on Media Consumption in Romania

As part of BROD activities, researchers from SNSPA (Romania) conducted an in-depth analysis of news consumption patterns among the Romanian population. By means of focus group discussions, this research explores how individuals engage with news and information, focusing on aspects such as preferred sources of news, formats, and exposure habits within the contemporary media landscape. Specifically, it examines important news consumption phenomena nowadays such as selective exposure – i.e., the tendency to expose to news that aligns with preexisting beliefs – and news avoidance, i.e., the tendency to completely avoid news content. Such patterns can explain why certain individuals end up being selectively or not informed at all. Another key objective of this study is to gain insights into public perceptions of what constitutes a healthy media diet, providing a user-centered perspective on the Romanian information environment. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, this research incorporates perspectives from both young adults (18-25 years old) and senior citizens (55 and above years old), allowing for intergenerational comparisons of news consumption habits and their mutual perceptions.

Main findings indicate that young people in Romania predominantly consume short-form content and prefer social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram as sources of news and information. In contrast, the elderly tend to rely on traditional media, such as television, as their main sources of information. However, a notable proportion of the elderly also reported engaging with social media for news, even though they have a more cautious approach.

An interesting discrepancy emerged in how the two generations perceive each other’s media habits. Younger participants frequently assumed that the elderly consume significant amounts of news via social media, while the elderly largely viewed themselves as only occasional users of such platforms. This divergence can be explained through the third-person perception phenomenon – i.e, individuals’ tendency to believe that others, particularly those from different demographic groups, are more susceptible to media influence compared to themselves. Given that social media news consumption is often linked with a higher risk of encountering misleading or low-quality information, both generations seem to attribute heavier reliance on digital platforms to the other, reinforcing concerns about media literacy and trust.

These results provide an interesting insight into the media consumption landscape in Romania, providing details on generational differences, perceived risks, and information-seeking behaviors. As the data are still being processed, further details and analysis will be available after publication.