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2.1 Young People's Under­standing of Media and Social Media in a Democratic Society

Knowledge about the role media and social media play in a democratic society as well as the conditions required for media to operate are central within media literacy. So also, is understanding the meaning of freedom of expression and media freedom. When analysing the theme in this section, a glance at young people’s use of different media to stay updated on the news will help in understanding the result. Many young people do not have any opinions regarding the role of newspaper articles in regard to freedom of speech; the share of respondents choosing a ‘don’t know’-reply varies between a fourth to almost half of the respondents (23 to 47 percent, see graph further below). This may have to do with the fact that this age group does not have a particularly strong relationship with newspapers. The share responding that they never read a daily newspaper, print or digital, is very high. Whether this is related to their generation or to where they are in their life remains to be said. On the other hand, young people have a stronger relationship with social media as well as with news on television.

News Consumption

Social media and TV are the most frequently used sources for staying updated on the news among the 9 to 15 age group. A majority of respondents, in particular in Sweden, follow the news through social media. After tv, the next most common news sources are radio and free news apps. Compared to the other four Nordic countries, the largest share of daily readers of newspapers, print or digital, among young people 9 to 15 years can be found in Norway.  
Figure 2.1.1. News consumption among 9- to 15- year-olds by country (percent)
How often do you use the following media to read the news about what is happening in your country and abroad?

Television news programmes 

Most of the respondents agree that television news programmes provide relevant and important information about current events. Many also agree that television news programmes are beneficial for freedom of speech and democracy; on average 50 percent agree or strongly agree, although this is slightly less pronounced in Iceland. There are differences among the young people in the four Nordic countries, but in general, there is more agreement than disagreement about the various aspects of the role of television news programmes.
Figure 2.1.2. Youths’ attitudes towards television news programmes by country (percent) 
Mean
Sweden: 3,9
Norway: 4,0
Denmark: 3,6
Iceland: 3,9
Mean
Sweden: 3,6
Norway: 3,8
Denmark: 3,6
Iceland: 3,5
Mean
Sweden: 3,5
Norway: 3,7
Denmark: 3,6
Iceland: 3,5
Mean
Sweden: 3,5
Norway: 3,6
Denmark: 3,7
Iceland: 3,3
Mean
Sweden: 3,9
Norway: 4,1
Denmark: 3,8
Iceland: 3,6

Newspapers

Generally, more respondents agree than disagree on the different statements regarding the role and function of newspaper articles. There is a similar pattern in the replies when comparing the countries, although newspapers have a stronger position among young people in Sweden and in Norway. The share of respondents without an opinion, answering ‘don’t know’ is relatively high overall, but it is lowest in Sweden (23 percent) and highest in Iceland (47 percent).
Most of the respondents agree to a large extent that newspapers have an important role in protecting freedom of speech and democracy, especially in Norway and Sweden. However, the role of newspaper articles in regard to democracy and freedom of speech is at the same time the statement with largest share of 'don’t know'-replies. This is probably because of the respondents’ lack of own experience reading newspapers.
Figure 2.1.3. Youths’ attitudes towards newspaper articles by country (percent) 
Mean
Sweden: 3,7
Norway: 3,9
Denmark: 3,7
Iceland: 3,7
Mean
Sweden: 3,4
Norway: 3,7
Denmark: 3,5
Iceland: 3,5
Mean
Sweden: 3,4
Norway: 3,7
Denmark: 3,5
Iceland: 3,5
Mean
Sweden: 3,5
Norway: 3,8
Denmark: 3,6
Iceland: 3,5
Mean
Sweden: 3,8
Norway: 4,0
Denmark: 3,8
Iceland: 3,6

Social media posts

On average in the four Nordic countries, four of ten respondents 9 to 15 years old, 42 percent, use social media daily to read the news (see graph further above). Social media is seen by a large portion of the young population as a platform that allows people to share their opinions (41 to 50 percent agree or strongly agree), in particular among the young people in Norway and Iceland. Social media is also considered beneficial for freedom of speech and democracy (37 to 41 percent agree or strongly agree), although to a lesser extent in Denmark (28 percent).
At the same time, many in the 9 to 15 age group do not believe that social media posts can be trusted or that they offer a fair picture of events domestically and abroad. A majority disagrees to the statement that social media posts can be trusted, and 17 percent strongly disagrees.
Figure 2.1.4. Youths’ attitudes towards social media posts by country (percent) 
Mean
Sweden: 3,3
Norway: 3,3
Denmark: 3,1
Iceland: 3,1
Mean
Sweden: 2,7
Norway: 2,7
Denmark: 2,6
Iceland: 2,5
Mean
Sweden: 2,9
Norway: 2,9
Denmark: 2,8
Iceland: 2,7
Mean
Sweden: 3,5
Norway: 3,7
Denmark: 3,5
Iceland: 3,9
Mean
Sweden: 3,5
Norway: 3,5
Denmark: 3,2
Iceland: 3,5

Attitudes to the role and function of journalists

The role of journalists is widely understood by young people across all the Nordic countries. Over half of the respondents agree or strongly agree on the importance of journalists reporting on people in power and that they deliver different opinions and ideas. The young people express that it is especially important that journalists ensure that the information they are reporting is true and accurate. A majority strongly agrees on that, between 52 and 66 percent. 
There are no substantial differences between older and younger respondents when it comes to how they perceive the roles and functions of journalists. As with many questions in this survey, the share of 'don’t know' responses are higher among 9- to 12- year-olds. In contrast, very few disagree to any extent on any of these state­ments, ranging between 1 and 4 percent. This indicates that the importance of journalistic work is strongly engrained in the Nordic youth and highly normative in the Nordic societies.
Figure 2.1.5. Youths’ attitudes to journalists’ roles by country (percent)
Mean
Sweden: 4,1
Norway: 4,3
Denmark: 4,1
Iceland: 4,0
Mean
Sweden: 4,2
Norway: 4,4
Denmark: 4,1
Iceland: 4,1
Mean
Sweden: 4,4
Norway: 4,6
Denmark: 4,4
Iceland: 4,6

Key insights

  • Young people most often stay updated via social media and TV. Daily newspaper use is comparatively low (print and digital). The same is true for radio, podcast and news app reliance.
  • Television news is generally considered trusted and to be beneficial for democracy. A larger share of respondents agrees rather than disagree that TV news is beneficial, and a majority agrees to some extent that it provides important information and benefits freedom of speech and democracy.
  • Attitudes towards newspaper articles are generally positive, but many are unsure of their opinions. More young people with opinions agree newspapers support freedom of expression and provide important information, but the proportion of respondents answering ‘don’t know’ regarding newspaper articles is high, ranging from 20 to 47 percent depending on the question and country. This may be something for media education practitioners to address.
  • Social media is the greatest source of news yet trust in it is low. Many young people agree that social platforms allow more people to share their opinions and that they support freedom of speech and democracy. However, more disagree than agree on positive statements such as that the content can be trusted or that it paints a fair picture of current events. This aligns with the result in the adult survey.
  • The importance of quality journalism is widely endorsed by the Nordic youth. The majority agree on the importance of journalists scrutinizing power and present diverse views. The respondents want to hold journalists to a high standard, and the majority strongly agree that journalists should ensure the accuracy of the information they report. Very few respondents disagree with any of these statements, ranging from 1 to 4 percent.
Nordic Council of Ministers I www.norden.org/publications I pub@norden.org