Bognar on How the Youth Gets Information in Hungary

The internet and social networks provide young people in Hungary the option to `opt-out` and avoid government propaganda, and access news from independent sources, our Senior Program Officer and Researcher, Eva Bognar said to Deutsche Welle.

At the same time, “we also know that social media’s algorithms reinforce political views, which can lead to an even greater polarization,” she added. Referring to the Reuters Digital News Report 2020, she also said that one third of Hungarians under 35 preferred news organizations sharing their worldview.

More and more independent media outlets in Hungary decide to introduce paywalls or subscription systems. “These are essential in the long term for independent media companies in Hungary, however, they can also result in decreasing access for Hungarians to independent information,” Eva Bognar said. This can affect young people as well, who usually have less financial means.

Eva Bognar also talked about the changes at Index.hu, once the leading independent news portal in Hungary. As she said, Index may not change its editorial line radically, “it is enough if Index simply doesn’t cover certain issues, (…) and loses its function as the watchdog to those in power.”