Media Convergence and Changes in Information Consumption Culture: A Study of User Behavior in the New Media Ecosystem

Abstract

This study aims to examine how media convergence has transformed information consumption culture by analyzing user behavior within the new media ecosystem. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study adopts a descriptive-interpretive research design to capture the meanings, motivations, and cultural contexts underlying everyday media use. This design was chosen to enable an in-depth understanding of how users navigate converged media environments beyond measurable patterns. The research was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia, a metropolitan area characterized by high digital connectivity and a hybrid media system. Twelve informants were purposively selected based on their active engagement with multiple media platforms and their capacity to reflect critically on information consumption practices. The findings reveal that media convergence reshapes information consumption through cross-platform navigation, selective exposure, and participatory engagement, while user motivations and cultural capital significantly influence credibility assessment and media choices. The study concludes that changes in information consumption culture emerge from the interaction between technological convergence, user agency, and sociocultural context. It recommends strengthening media literacy initiatives and adopting user-centered perspectives in future media research and policy development.