Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns
This study examines the emerging role of messaging apps and end-to-end encryption in news consumption patterns across the European Union. Using data from the Flash Eurobarometer 3153 “Media and News Survey 2023”, we employed K-Means cluster analysis to identify five distinct news consumer profiles....
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Information |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/1/48 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588323641622528 |
|---|---|
| author | Răzvan Rughiniș Dinu Țurcanu Simona-Nicoleta Vulpe Alexandru Radovici |
| author_facet | Răzvan Rughiniș Dinu Țurcanu Simona-Nicoleta Vulpe Alexandru Radovici |
| author_sort | Răzvan Rughiniș |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the emerging role of messaging apps and end-to-end encryption in news consumption patterns across the European Union. Using data from the Flash Eurobarometer 3153 “Media and News Survey 2023”, we employed K-Means cluster analysis to identify five distinct news consumer profiles. Our findings reveal that while messaging apps are used by 15% of EU residents for news consumption, their adoption varies significantly across demographic groups and regions. Notably, omnivorous news consumers show the highest usage (61%) and trust in these platforms, indicating a complementary role to traditional news sources. The study highlights a generational divide, with younger users and those still in education showing a stronger preference for messaging apps. Surprisingly, individuals without formal education also demonstrate high usage, challenging assumptions about the digital divide. This research offers updated, large-scale information on the evolving European news ecosystem, where private, encrypted channels are gaining importance alongside public platforms. Our findings have significant implications for media strategies, policymaking, and understanding the future of news dissemination in an increasingly digital and privacy-conscious Europe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d5b0741aa3d415291fc8e0dfa1922d2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-2489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Information |
| spelling | doaj-art-0d5b0741aa3d415291fc8e0dfa1922d22025-01-24T13:35:16ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892025-01-011614810.3390/info16010048Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption PatternsRăzvan Rughiniș0Dinu Țurcanu1Simona-Nicoleta Vulpe2Alexandru Radovici3Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, Technical University of Moldova, MD-2004 Chișinău, MoldovaDoctoral School of Sociology, University of Bucharest, 010181 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Automatic Control and Computers, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaThis study examines the emerging role of messaging apps and end-to-end encryption in news consumption patterns across the European Union. Using data from the Flash Eurobarometer 3153 “Media and News Survey 2023”, we employed K-Means cluster analysis to identify five distinct news consumer profiles. Our findings reveal that while messaging apps are used by 15% of EU residents for news consumption, their adoption varies significantly across demographic groups and regions. Notably, omnivorous news consumers show the highest usage (61%) and trust in these platforms, indicating a complementary role to traditional news sources. The study highlights a generational divide, with younger users and those still in education showing a stronger preference for messaging apps. Surprisingly, individuals without formal education also demonstrate high usage, challenging assumptions about the digital divide. This research offers updated, large-scale information on the evolving European news ecosystem, where private, encrypted channels are gaining importance alongside public platforms. Our findings have significant implications for media strategies, policymaking, and understanding the future of news dissemination in an increasingly digital and privacy-conscious Europe.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/1/48messaging appsend-to-end encryptionnews consumptionEuropean UnionEurobarometerdigital media |
| spellingShingle | Răzvan Rughiniș Dinu Țurcanu Simona-Nicoleta Vulpe Alexandru Radovici Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns Information messaging apps end-to-end encryption news consumption European Union Eurobarometer digital media |
| title | Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns |
| title_full | Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns |
| title_fullStr | Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns |
| title_short | Encrypted Engagement: Mapping Messaging App Use in European News Consumption Patterns |
| title_sort | encrypted engagement mapping messaging app use in european news consumption patterns |
| topic | messaging apps end-to-end encryption news consumption European Union Eurobarometer digital media |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/16/1/48 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT razvanrughinis encryptedengagementmappingmessagingappuseineuropeannewsconsumptionpatterns AT dinuturcanu encryptedengagementmappingmessagingappuseineuropeannewsconsumptionpatterns AT simonanicoletavulpe encryptedengagementmappingmessagingappuseineuropeannewsconsumptionpatterns AT alexandruradovici encryptedengagementmappingmessagingappuseineuropeannewsconsumptionpatterns |