Media and Generations in Portugal

Abstract

Many discourses link media with generations, ascribing particular appetence for the use of new media to youth, in contrast with older generations. This article aims to give an account of the empirical regularities but also differences found in a longitudinal quantitative analysis of Internet users, uses, and media preferences among different Portuguese age cohorts. Making use of questionnaire surveys with representative samples, the importance of generational belongings in structuring different types of relationships with media is demonstrated, as youngsters seem to prefer new media. However, this variable does not hold in itself complete explanatory power. The importance of formal education, besides other sociographic variables, is clear, indicating the existence of social disparities within age cohorts, with repercussions on the mediated access to resources and opportunities. The diversity and inequalities found through the statistical analysis help to combat the rhetoric of a supposedly innate, all-encompassing digital nativity. By adopting a social constructivist approach, with a more holistic scope, this article also aims to reconstruct part of the complexity and multidimensionality of the relationship between and within Portuguese generations with media, thereby deconstructing more essentialist and homogenising notions of youth and generations.

An eight‐month randomized controlled trial on the use of intra‐oral cameras and text messages for gingivitis control among adults

“…In the present study, it is possible to draw conclusions about the beneficial role of using an IOC and TM together to increase dental flossing and decrease bleeding. It is legitimate to wonder whether these gains were found mainly among younger people as technology use in Portugal reflects a generational gap; however, our study did not show significant age differences over time for the TM intervention (data not presented), which may be due to the cohorts not being homogenous groups in terms of technology use. As these devices were used in a theory‐ and evidence‐based intervention, it was also possible to investigate the determinants responsible for the change that occurred and its underlying mechanisms.…”

Who Are the Young Adults in Portugal? Daily Usage of Social Media and Mobile Phones, in a No-Kids and No-Independent Housing Context—Results from a Representative Online Survey

“…Departing from a perspective etymologically orientated by social constructivism [44], we seek to look at the generational profile according to generations theory [5], in this case focusing on young adulthood as an object of study in its own right. As such, this work, like that of other authors [2], employs a social constructivist quantitative approach. That followed approach is a quantitative-extensive methodological strategy using an online questionnaire survey.…”

“…In fact, the idea of young generations in Portugal tends to vary regarding the specific characteristics of that context, in academic and even non-academic settings. At least until now, Portuguese national statistical organisations do not focus on young adults as an age group of their own, therefore a quantitative representative study is necessary to contribute to such characterization, even if it is not intended to generalise and homogenise a generation [2].…”

Apps e Jovens Adultos: Contributos para um Mapeamento de Práticas Mediadas

“…Neste cenário, que não pretende ser homogeneizador de uma geração inteira (Vieira, 2018), projeta-se um protagonismo social da geração me, uma subgeração da geração Z (pessoas nascidas após 1995), que influencia um particular foco em si próprio. Atualmente, a comunidade científica tem-se debruçado sobre as transformações sociais desencadeadas pela pandemia da COVID-19.…”