News Avoidance & Participation
Recent trends in news audience research indicate a troubling rise in news avoidance, where individuals who would typically engage with news actively choose to disengage. This behaviour is driven by various factors linked to our digital society, including information overload, emotional drain, distrust in news media, and low interest in politics. While some studies suggest that news avoidance may enhance well-being, concerns have been raised regarding its implications for democratic processes, particularly voter participation in elections and referendums. This study addresses the critical gap in understanding how news avoidance and its different motivations influence electoral engagement, particularly focusing on a public referendum scheduled for Sept. 2025 in Switzerland.
Building on the DSI Information Abundance Project which explored individuals' navigation of information abundance and coping strategies like news avoidance, this research will employ a three-wave panel study. We will investigate how different motivations for news avoidance—such as low interest in politics, distrust in news media, and emotional overload—affect voter participation. By examining these dynamics, the study aims to shed light on the complex relationship between media consumption patterns and political engagement. We are applying for cross-funding for this project, with additional funding sources covering the remaining costs.
Project Collaborators
Franziska Marquart
Jakob Ohme
Maud Reveillac
Sophia C. Volk