BUPNET EU

Critical Balance – How we consume information

Our social influences play a significant role in how we choose to receive information. People seek information about what their peers believe and do in order to avoid social exclusion or just to feel part of a group. This is connected to the reputational aspect of socialisation that encourages individuals to follow certain behaviours of their peers. As a result, people tend to discover news from posts made by their friends on social media platforms. Given that young people consume most of their information from social media, this reputational aspect has become a crucial element in the information gathering process among the various social media platforms available.

Want to find out more? Read the Critical Balance e-book for youth workers on critical thinking and conspiracy theories!