The document discusses digital media use among different groups in Portugal and the USA. It finds that those with higher education levels opt for more in-depth information online. Some use social media like Twitter to stay informed on news, while others use the internet more for communication and entertainment. Finally, it notes the continued importance of television as a news source, and calls for policies to promote media literacy and critical thinking skills among internet users.

2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

3. METHODOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS
Digital Inclusion and Participation. Comparing the trajectories
of digital media use by majority and disadvantaged groups in Portugal
and the USA

4. 25
20
15
10
15-18
5
18-25
0
26-30

6.  Opting for information on the internet is associated with a higher education level
and also to diverse and deep information.
 Newspaper online and social networks: journalists or journalism student.
“I really get more informed on Internet, mainly on twitter, I love …twitter monitors the
major newspapers and TV news so well because they always post the news very
quickly, all that is happening.”
(male, 22, frequent user of the internet)
 Who do not use the internet to search for news: use it more to contact friends and
family, search for job references and access YouTube and social networks for
entertainment and also to search for homework.

8. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
 Social networks: Contrary to what is the general idea, we found that they
were not important as news sources in the context of the three groups.
Need to promote a more critical, informed public.
 Linkage between education capital and news consumption, in quality and
quantity of the uses.
 The television is still a relevant source of information, especially during the
election periods .

 Public policies that promote media literacy are relevant for the
construction of critical behaviour.
 For those that already have access it is important to think about
forms of improving skills and to promote a critical knowledge of
what they see.

9. Project Digital Inclusion and Participation. Comparing the trajectories of digital media
use by majority and disadvantaged groups in Portugal and the USA.
http://digital_inclusion.up.pt/index_files/Page420.htm
Maria José Brites
britesmariajose@gmail.com
Thank you!