News avoidance has emerged as a growing concern, influencing how information is received, shaping civic engagement, and forming individual perspectives. This study investigates the key factors contributing to this behavior, particularly in the evolving media landscape where traditional news sources face increasing competition from digital platforms. Conducted across six universities in two metropolitan cities in Pakistan, the research aims to explore the complexities of news avoidance behaviors through a survey-based methodology with a purposive sampling approach. A total of 558 university students participated in the study, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of diverse variables influencing news consumption habits. The study examines critical factors, including news overload, news fatigue, the perception of “news finding the individual”, trust in news sources, political interest, news efficacy, negativity in news, and information overload. These variables were systematically analyzed to determine their influence on news avoidance. Among them, two significant predictors emerged: news fatigue and the perception that “news finds me”. These findings highlight the intersection of media consumption habits and individual traits, providing deeper insights into the behavior of university students in Pakistan. By identifying the key drivers of news avoidance, this research contributes to the theoretical framework of media studies while offering practical recommendations for fostering greater engagement with news. Addressing the psychological and behavioral dimensions of news consumption can help develop strategies to encourage informed and active participation in news discourse, particularly in an era of rapidly evolving digital media.
Imran et al. (Mon,) studied this question.