News Consumption Habits of Generation Z: A Case Study of Social Communication Students in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze Generation Z university students’ news consumption habits in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. This is considered within a context of increasing digitalization, information fragmentation, and the circulation of disinformation, drawing on uses and gratifications theory and contemporary contributions to media ecology and digital culture. Methodologically, a mixed-methods approach was applied, conducting structured surveys with a sample of 175 Social Communication students, complemented by two focus groups, one for each country. Results indicated that social media constitutes the students' main source of information, far surpassing traditional media. Thus, their news consumption is characterized by its incidental nature, a preference for entertainment content, and an ambivalent assessment of online credibility. Memes are emerging as legitimate information formats among young people, used as resources to summarize information and conduct social critique. While students expressed awareness of misinformation, their fact-checking practices are sporadic and dependent on their thematic interests. Furthermore, differences were observed between countries regarding thematic preferences and verification strategies, suggesting the influence of sociocultural and institutional factors on shaping young people’s news consumption. Finally, it is concluded that students did not show a lack of interest in information, but rather that they are reconfiguring their practices based on digital devices, algorithmic logic, and the cultural dynamics of their generation.