A Comparative Analysis of News Consumption Habits among Gen Z: Social Media vs Traditional Media

Abstract

This study examines how Gen Z youth in Bhopal consume news and how their preferences differ between social media and traditional media. The study focuses on source preference, perceived credibility, content format, verification behavior, frequency and timing of news consumption. The survey data show that social media is the most-used medium for news consumption (33.84%), followed by television (26.26%) and news websites (23.23%). At the same time, traditional media remains important when respondents assess credibility and verify information. Video is the most preferred content format, while most respondents spend 15–30 minutes a day consuming news. Overall, the findings suggest a hybrid pattern: young people use digital platforms for speed and convenience, but continue to rely on traditional media for verification and depth.