Newsroom
A new study by the Institute of Mass Media (IMME) reveals that many young people in Cyprus struggle to distinguish real news from social media content, raising concerns about the future of journalism and democratic participation.
“Young people do not seek out news on their own, nor are they able to distinguish between news and non-news content that appears on their platforms,” said Nikolas Karydis, director of IMME and lead researcher of the study.
young people move quickly between global, national, local, and personal topics online without retaining information, a pattern that can weaken critical thinking and logical reasoning.
According to Kathimerini's Paris Demetriades, the pilot study, conducted among pupils in private and public schools and first-year university students, explored news literacy, the ability to understand, evaluate, and use news responsibly. IMME researchers met students in a relaxed setting, allowing for more candid responses than traditional surveys, and presented lessons on how quality journalism operates.
“Quality journalism relies on an entire mechanism, from newsrooms and editors to codes of ethics and legal departments,” Karydis said. “Many content creators on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have no journalistic training, their motives are often not in the public interest, and they can mislead, intentionally or not.”
Key findings from the study show that students:
- Rarely start with the intention to access a specific news outlet; they click on content that catches their eye.
- Confuse news with non-news posts and judge information based on whether it is “fun” or “useful to know.”
- Receive most of their information from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X, with podcasts also gaining traction.
- Spend 3 to 6 hours a day on phones or tablets, more on non-school days.
- Frequently use terms like “fake news” and “conspiracy theories,” often without understanding their meaning.
- Are cynical about journalists and media, though it is unclear if this comes from personal experience.
Karydis also highlighted a worrying trend: young people move quickly between global, national, local, and personal topics online without retaining information, a pattern that can weaken critical thinking and logical reasoning.
“When we don’t consolidate information, we don’t create lasting memories, and when we don’t have lasting memories, we can’t think logically,” Karydis said. “This contributes to the rise of controversial figures who might never have been elected if voters were better informed.”
The study also examined the role of large online platforms. Karydis described the owners of these platforms as “the authoritarian leaders of today,” shaping what people see, grouping users into digital silos, and influencing public opinion.
In Cyprus, while institutions like the Pedagogical Institute and the Broadcasting Authority have increased efforts to improve news literacy, Karydis said resources are limited and political support is weak. He stressed that developing a national strategy is urgent, especially as today’s 14-year-olds will be first-time voters by 2028.
Teachers who participated in the study supported the idea of permanent news literacy lessons in schools but said they often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of digital information students consume.
The IMME study underscores a pressing challenge for democracy: without guidance and critical skills, young people may continue to conflate entertainment with news, making them more susceptible to misinformation and manipulation.
