Effects of the News-Finds-Me Perception in Communication: Social Media Use Implications for News Seeking and Learning About Politics

TLDR

With social media at the forefront of today’s media context, citizens may perceive they need not actively seek news because they will be exposed to it through peers and social networks. The study tests the implications of the “news‑finds‑me” perception for news seeking and political knowledge. Using U.S. panel‑survey data, the authors find that those who perceive news will find them are less likely to use traditional news sources and are less knowledgeable about politics over time.

Abstract

With social media at the forefront of today's media context, citizens may perceive they don't need to actively seek news because they will be exposed to news and remain well-informed through their peers and social networks. We label this the "news-finds-me perception," and test its implications for news seeking and political knowledge: "news-finds-me effects." U.S. panel-survey data show that individuals who perceive news will find them are less likely to use traditional news sources and are less knowledgeable about politics over time. Although the news-finds-me perception is positively associated with news exposure on social media, this behavior doesn't facilitate political learning. These results suggest news continues to enhance political knowledge best when actively sought.