It’s no secret that younger generations are turning their backs on traditional media. Just take a look at the data—nearly 90% of young adults get their news from digital devices, often through social media. They’re not ignorant of what’s out there on TV or in newspapers, though. A good chunk of them still consume news from traditional outlets. But familiarity isn’t breeding loyalty—it’s breeding rejection. They’ve seen what mainstream media has to offer, and they’re choosing to walk away.
Now, why is that? Simple. The so-called “free press,” the one we once depended on to hold power accountable, has drifted so far into the corporate and political stratosphere that it barely touches reality anymore. The newsrooms aren’t filled with watchdogs keeping the three branches of government honest. They’re occupied by elites crafting narratives designed to keep their boardroom overlords happy and their political alliances intact. It’s no wonder that young people—who by nature question authority—are opting for platforms where they feel like they’re getting a more authentic version of the truth.
But it’s not just the young who are fed up. Older generations, too, are growing tired of the scripted narratives and the incessant spin from mainstream outlets. They see news that has become little more than a mouthpiece for political agendas. They’re beginning to question: if the media is working harder to manage public opinion than inform it, then what’s the point? The truth is, people of all ages are waking up to the fact that the news they get from corporate-run, politically influenced media is far from the unvarnished truth.
Call it confirmation bias, call it skepticism. But here’s what’s happening: people, young and old, are gravitating toward sources that tell them what they already suspect to be true—sources that don’t insult their intelligence by spoon-feeding them half-truths. They want to see the facts as they are, not as some editorial board thinks they should be presented.
The free press was supposed to be the fourth estate, safeguarding democracy. That’s a long-gone fantasy. Today, it’s social media, for better or worse, that is stepping into the vacuum left by traditional media. And whether the old guard likes it or not, it’s where people are finding their truth—away from the polished agendas of the corporate boardrooms.
In South Africa, the traditional media landscape is crumbling under financial and political pressures. Newspapers are steadily declining as they lose readers who are disillusioned by content that too often aligns with political party agendas. Meanwhile, the state-run broadcaster, SABC, is grappling with severe financial shortfalls. Years of mismanagement and declining TV license payments have left the broadcaster desperate, leading the government to propose a household levy to replace the outdated TV license system. This proposal comes as citizens increasingly refuse to fund a broadcaster they feel is out of touch and failing to serve their interests.
Click here to read an article on how the youth in America are turning away from traditional media https://www.zerohedge.com/political/young-america-right-reject-traditional-news
