DIACOMET at the Möbius Conference: News on the run
On October 3rd 2025, DIACOMET partner from Università della Svizzera italiana Colin Porlezza delivered a talk entitled “News on the run: the complex relationship between young people and information, and the future of democratic participation” at the Möbius Conference, held in Lugano, Switzerland. His presentation examined key trends in young people’s relationship with news, drawing on recent research conducted within the DIACOMET framework, as evident from the description below.
In recent years, several studies have highlighted a progressive misalignment between young people and news consumption. In Switzerland, many adolescents inform themselves in a fragmented and discontinuous way through social media, where news often lacks context and verification, and where a stable connection with news outlets is not formed. Despite spending a significant amount of time immersed in digital media, a growing number of young people no longer come into contact with information, constituting a group that is “news deprived”, or they actively avoid it, motivated by the perception of news as irrelevant, anxiety-inducing, or distant from their daily lives.
Data from focus group discussions conducted within the framework of the DIACOMET project indicate how, in particular, young adults relate to traditional news media. The findings show that participants criticized the limited public attention devoted by traditional media to issues considered urgent by younger social groups, such as gender-based violence or climate change. The insufficient coverage of these topics, which are highly significant for young adults, contributes to their growing detachment from traditional news media.
These dynamics raise fundamental questions regarding the sustainability of information and the quality of democratic participation: without regular access to reliable journalistic content, the critical skills and civic inclusion of younger citizens diminish. The intervention proposes a reflection on these dynamics, based on recent data concerning young people, information, and democracy.
The details of his presentations can be found below:
Porlezza, C. (2025). Notizie in fuga: il rapporto complesso tra giovani e informazione e il futuro della partecipazione democratica [News on the run: the complex relationship between young people and information, and the future of democratic participation]. Möbius Conference, Lugano, Switzerland.