Algorithmized Teenagers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Information Cocoons, Algorithmic Literacy, and Media Literacy

The proliferation of algorithmically curated and personalized news environments has raised important questions about how adolescents encounter and engage with information. This study examines the associations between algorithmic news consumption, perceived algorithmic literacy, and multiple dimensions of news-related orientations among teenagers. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of U.S. adolescents aged 14–17 (N = 437), the study adopts a multidimensional approach to news literacy, encompassing cognitive, motivational, evaluative, affective, and knowledge-based components. Findings indicate modest positive associations between algorithmic news use and several news-related orientations, including news appreciation, need for cognition, and locus of control, while relationships with critical evaluation and knowledge are more limited. Algorithmic literacy is also strongly associated with these orientations, although substantial conceptual overlap is observed. The results suggest a conditional and non-deterministic relationship between algorithmic media use and youth news engagement. Implications are discussed with attention to measurement constraints, cross-sectional design, and the need for more precise conceptual and methodological approaches in future research.