People in my age range use media much more extensively and actively than the people of my parents’ age. Young people prefer digital media as the main source of information about the country and the world and it significantly reduces the time they spend watching traditional TV or reading print media (Debrael et al., 2019). As opposed to them, the older population relies more on television and news channels to acquire new knowledge and build their perspective on various issues.
Social networks have become a key communication platform that shapes the knowledge and experience of young people. Meanwhile, people of my parents’ age, they are mostly a means of sharing occasional photos and connecting with their peers over their life updates. However, there are some more media-literate older people who often use digital platforms to discuss the issues that concern them, express their opinions, and gather others to oppose or support specific matters. Debrael et al. (2019) add that “overall news consumption increases with age” (p. 148). For example, there are many various groups on Facebook that unite mostly older populations, such as specific politicians or political issue supporters or parents’ experiences exchanges.
Young people also tend to create communities based on their interests, although our style of communication differs from that of older people. Usually, these communities adopt a more informal type of written speech and use unique memes and slang that reflect the specific interest on which the group is built. Today, the media not only reflect a multifaceted picture of the world, providing it to modern people, but also participate in the formation of cultural, political, and social values. This is especially true for young people, as we were introduced into a digital world much earlier than our parents, and thus we are affected more by it.
Reference
Debrael, M., d’Haenens, L., De Cock, R., & De Coninck, D. (2019). Media use, fear of terrorism, and attitudes towards immigrants and refugees: Young people and adults compared. International Communication Gazette, 83(2), 148–168.