This bachelor’s thesis investigates the phenomenon of news avoidance among young adults in Sweden, with a specific focus on how information overload, media distrust, and negative news content influence democratic participation. Using the OMA model (Opportunity, Motivation, Ability) as an analytical framework and drawing on qualitative interviews with eight respondents aged 20–30, the study explores the individual reasons behind both intentional and unintentional news avoidance.

The findings reveal that many young adults deliberately disengage from news to protect their mental well-being, while others avoid it passively due to structural changes in the digital media environment. Key themes include a perceived irrelevance of news, skepticism toward media credibility, and emotional fatigue caused by persistently negative reporting. Many participants instead rely on alternative platforms such as social media and YouTube for information, raising concerns about selective exposure and potential echo chambers.

By applying the OMA model, the study demonstrates how external conditions, personal motivation, and cognitive resources shape media consumption habits. A notable insight is that several respondents had never reflected on their relationship with news, suggesting a lack of media awareness that may further distance them from civic engagement.

The thesis contributes to media and communication research by providing a nuanced, empirically grounded account of how young Swedes navigate an overwhelming news landscape. It also underlines the democratic risks of increasing news avoidance and suggests that improved media literacy and more inclusive news formats could foster greater re-engagement.