Between Overload and Refuge: Characteristics of Young People News Avoidance in Latin America

Purpose. This study describes the characteristics of news avoidance among Communication students in Latin American universities. Methodology. A qualitative and exploratory approach was applied through 96 focus groups conducted between February and December 2023 in 37 public and private universities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, with undergraduate students recruited by convenience sampling. Results and Conclusions. The findings show that avoidance is mainly selective, focused on topics such as the pandemic, crime-related news, political conflicts and wars. Negativity and information overload triggered emotions like anxiety and distress, prompting students to develop refuge strategies, including the use of social media for entertainment, algorithmic filtering to silence unwanted content, and temporary disconnection from news sources. These practices influence their perceptions of journalism’s quality and relevance. Singularities. The study provides novel evidence on news avoidance among Latin American youth, a segment underexplored despite its future relevance as communication professionals. The insights contribute to understanding how media organizations may reconnect with younger audiences and to advancing academic debates on platformization, news consumption, and its implications for media, politics and society.