Research On Gen Z News Consumption Based On WeChat Platform

China’s news industry is changing rapidly due to mobile internet and social transformation,leading to a shift in the news production mode and an amplified initiative of news audiences.However,research on news consumption in the new media environment has neglected the changes brought about by media technology and intergenerational differences.This study aims to explore the heterogeneity of Gen Z’s news consumption and its influencing factors by examining news consumption on a popular micromessaging platform.Grounded theory is used as the methodology,and qualitative research methods and tools are comprehensively employed.Two focus group discussions are conducted to identify core issues,followed by one-on-one in-depth interviews with 22 participants.Three-level coding of stylized grounded theory is employed to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of Gen Z’s news consumption.Relevant theories of news communication,market economics,and social psychology are applied to analyze the data and construct a theoretical model of Gen Z’s news consumption.After a three-level coding analysis,181 valid concepts,32 initial categories,11 main categories,and 10 typical relationships are identified.Key factors influencing news consumption are uncovered through storyline analysis.A preliminary analysis of the consumption behavior of Gen Z news consumers is conducted using a causal chain model of antecedents,process variables,and outcome variables.A theoretical model is constructed that focuses on the psychological context of consumption,establishing a relationship between news demand,news consumption motivation,risk perception,and consumption decision-making.The study finds that Gen Z has incorporated news consumption into their daily lives and exhibits a blend of consumerism and rational choice.Although they understand the value of news,they tend to prefer entertainment and pragmatic news types.They acknowledge the positive aspects of network news,such as rich content,convenience,and diverse functions,but are also aware of the risks of network news alienation and take proactive measures to avoid its negative effects.Therefore,guiding Gen Z’s news consumption with a Marxist news concept is not only an inevitable embodiment of media development but also an essential means to meet the social and growth needs of Gen Z.