COMPARING THE PREFERENCES AND USE PATTERNS OF TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA AMONG YOUTHS IN ANAMBRA STATE: A CONVERGENCE AND DECONVERGENCE PERSPECTIVE

This study explores the patterns of television and new media use among youths in Anambra State, Nigeria, with particular focus on how demographic factors influence their media preferences. Against the backdrop of converging media technologies, the study examines whether media consumption is characterised by integration (convergence) or functional separation (deconvergence). A qualitative approach was adopted, involving two focus group discussions (FGDs) composed of twelve participants six males and six females aged 18–30 years. The participants, purposively selected using a snowball technique, were university students and graduates residing in Awka, the state capital. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Findings revealed that while the participants exhibited a linear and selective use of television often for specific programmes such as sports, news, or family bonding they formed complex new media repertoires for work, entertainment, and social interaction. These include using smartphones and laptops for messaging, computing, browsing, and streaming. A negative correlation was observed between time spent on television and new media, suggesting that the platforms are not used concurrently but for distinct purposes. Socio-economic factors such as income, education level, and age were significant in shaping access and usage patterns. The study concludes that new media has not entirely replaced television among youths. Rather, both platforms coexist with differentiated functions, indicating a simultaneous process of media convergence and deconvergence. These insights offer implications for media producers and content strategists seeking to engage youth audiences across multiple platforms.