The power of algorithms: how algorithmic trust shapes the “News Finds Me” perception among Gen Z

Purpose This study examines how habitual social media use and perceived algorithmic influence shape algorithmic trust, and how algorithmic trust in turn relates to the three components of the “News Finds Me” (NFM) perception among Generation Z. It conceptualises social media as an everyday information environment and positions algorithmic trust as the psychological mechanism linking platform engagement to passive news orientations. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Gen Z college students in Türkiye (N = 592). Data were analysed with structural equation modelling in R (lavaan). Construct validity was established through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on split samples. Measurement invariance across gender was confirmed, and indirect effects were tested using bias-corrected bootstrapped confidence intervals (5,000 resamples). Findings Both social media use and perceived algorithmic influence are positively related to algorithmic trust, which strongly predicts all three NFM dimensions: feeling informed without actively seeking news, reduced motivation for intentional news consumption, and reliance on peers for news exposure. Indirect effects from both antecedents to all three NFM dimensions through algorithmic trust were confirmed, and the findings held when NFM was modelled as a higher-order construct. Research limitations/implications This study advances the literature by positioning algorithmic trust as a key mechanism underlying the News Finds Me (NFM) perception. The findings highlight the need for future research to further explore platform-driven factors in news consumption, particularly the role of algorithmic awareness and transparency. Additionally, future studies should employ longitudinal and cross-cultural designs to better understand the dynamics of algorithmic trust across different contexts. Practical implications Digital platforms and content designers should consider how algorithmic systems shape users' trust and passive news consumption, particularly among younger audiences in high-avoidance, low-trust media environments. Social implications The study highlights how algorithmic trust redistributes the responsibility for staying informed, reinforcing passive news consumption in algorithmically mediated environments. Originality/value The study identifies algorithmic trust as a key psychological mechanism underlying the NFM perception and provides empirical evidence from Türkiye, extending NFM research beyond Anglo-American contexts. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: Link to the website