The Dependence of Iraqi Audience on News Applications as a Source of Information
Abstract
This research aims to study the level of the Iraqi audience's dependence on news applications as a source of information about various events and issues, based on Media System Dependency Theory. The researcher adopted the descriptive method using the questionnaire tool that was distributed to a sample of (257) respondents from the city of Baghdad, selected by convenience sampling method. The research aimed to measure the level of dependence, the most used applications, and the type of news followed, in addition to revealing the cognitive, affective, and behavioral reasons and motivations behind this dependence. The results showed a strong dependence on applications such as (Al-Sumaria News) and (Al-Sharqiya News), which were the most frequently used platforms. Political, security, and economic news content received the highest levels of user engagement. The main drivers behind this dependence included ease of use, rapid news delivery, and the presence of engaging visual content. While the findings indicated a significant cognitive impact, they also revealed a limited emotional and behavioral dependence on these applications. This research represents a qualitative addition to the media library by shedding light on digital news applications in Iraq, and serves as a basis for future studies that explore shifts in the patterns of public consumption of information in light of the fast technological developments.
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