How trust is constructed, negotiated and withheld in an increasingly chaotic digital information landscape
News consumption and trust are shifting across generations as the structures of media production and distribution are reshaped by technology. In the past decade, the rise of algorithmically curated feeds, influencer commentary, and platform-specific news cultures have transformed how audiences encounter and evaluate information. What makes Generation Z distinct is not simply their skepticism, but that they are the first generation to have grown up fully immersed in social media, where news, entertainment, and misinformation coexist. This research investigates how Gen Z Canadians navigate trust within this hybrid media environment. Through qualitative analysis, it reveals a shift away from institutional authority toward participatory verification and decentralized trust. Gen Z audiences cross-reference sources, privilege firsthand accounts, and selectively engage or disengage from news as an act of agency. These findings underscore a redefinition of trust in digital journalism—one that is fluid, situational, and negotiated in real time.
Read the full article in the Fall 2025 issue of Facts and Frictions
Facts and Frictions is published by J-Schools Canada, Canada’s national association for post-secondary journalism research and education. All content is open access and available via J-Source.