The Specifics of Understanding the Information from Different Types of Mass Media by Young People

The aim of the article is to establish the specifics of understanding local and world news from different sources by young people (Internet portals, social networks, TV, the press). Methods. The study involved 200 students aged from 17 to 23 (female, n = 120 and male, n = 80). The empirical research intended to solve three tasks. The first task is to model a hierarchy of media according to two criteria: frequency of usage and a degree of trust. We solved this task via a ranking method and a correlation analysis of the data. The second task, to analyze the ideas of young people about the characteristics of information from different media, was reached through an author’s version of a semantic differential. The third task, to establish categories of consciousness that mediate the understanding of the information, was implemented through factorization of the data of semantic differential. Results of the research. We established that young people demonstrate maximum trust to the information from Internet portals, social networks and through direct informal communication. They demonstrate the lowest degree of trust towards the messages from representatives of the administration, TV and the press. Comparative analysis revealed statistically significant differences among the profiles (р ≤ 0.01), apart from the information from the Internet portals and the press. We established number of categories that mediate the understanding of the information, demonstrate a more complex cognitive formation of consciousness regarding digital media. The content of the leading categories appeared to be statistically identical. Conclusions. The study revealed a direct correlation between the level of trust and a degree of officiality of the source. Young people demonstrate higher degree of trust to unofficial sources and less trust to official sources. According to young people’s perception, information from the Internet portals affects their cognitive sphere while social networks and TV touch the emotional. A common feature of the news from digital and printed media is a highly competent approach to the creation of the content. Undifferentiated content of the categories proves poor understanding of its nature and the relevance of efforts to develop the independence and critical thinking of young people.