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Articles
DOI: 10.14254/1795-6889.2026.22-1.11
Submitted: 2026-04-29
Published: 2026-04-29

Media influence and user behaviour in the news environment: Traditional versus social media

Kozminski University, Poland; Széchenyi István University, Hungary
Kozminski University, Poland
National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Ukraine
Kozminski University, Poland
Széchenyi Istvàn University, Hungary
digitalisation disinformation Eurobarometer 2025 social media traditional media algorithmic news fake news recognition

Abstract

This study investigates behavioural patterns in identifying disinformation within news environments, where algorithmically curated information flows shape human-technology interaction. Using data from the 2025 Eurobarometer survey (n=26,114), the research employs statistical analysis to compare users' attitudes towards news in traditional and social media. Findings indicate a significant disparity: while 65.9 % of respondents express high confidence in recognising fake news, 34.1% remain unconfident. Notably, high engagement with social media correlates with a greater exposure to disinformation. Women tend to have slightly higher self-reported exposure to disinformation (23.8%) than men (21.1%). Results demonstrate that demographic factors, particularly age and years of education, significantly shape information-checking behaviours. By adopting a human-oriented perspective, the study highlights how digitally mediated environments structure users’ interaction with information and condition their capacity to critically assess its reliability.

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How to Cite

Mishchuk, H., Kuźmicz, K., Krol, V., Nożewski, J., & Imreh-Tóth, M. (2026). Media influence and user behaviour in the news environment: Traditional versus social media. Human Technology, 22(1), 219–238. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2026.22-1.11