Sparking Interest, Modeling Consumption: A Contingency Model for Youth News Socialization

• In Event: Youth Engagement With Media: Sharing, Synthesis, and Social Capital

Abstract

This study seeks to understand how American youth (ages 12 to 17) develop interest in and habits of news consumption, with specific concern for what types of devices (television, computer, tablet, smartphone) they employ in consuming news. We explore: 1) the role of demographics in creating a home environment supportive of news use 2) the importance of parental device modeling on youth news adoption – and whether this relationship is complicated by the shift from shared to individualized media consumption in the home, and 3) the impact of other socialization agents, such as peers and schools, in encouraging youth news consumption above and beyond characteristics of the home. We employ a national survey of parent-child dyads to explore these questions. We find greatest support for parental “matched modeling” of news consumption behaviors for their children, which is particularly important as news and technology continue to evolve.

Authors

• Stephanie Edgerly, Northwestern U

• Kjerstin Thorson, U of Southern California

• Esther Thorson, U of Missouri

• Emily K Vraga, George Mason University

• Leticia Bode, Georgetown U