Like numerous individuals, my smartphone is the initial thing I reach for upon waking and the final item I glance at before heading to bed. My iPhone serves as my alarm clock, GPS, music device, and, most crucially, my primary means of staying connected with friends and family while staying updated with the fast-evolving news landscape. I am certainly not alone in this routine.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center indicates that 86% of American adults report receiving news from a smartphone at least from time to time. Another Pew report identified that 20% of Americans feel inundated by the volume of information they encounter. Although these figures provide noteworthy insights, they frequently neglect a significant demographic: Asian Americans. This category, which encompasses a broad array of ethnic backgrounds, exhibits unique media consumption patterns that vary considerably from the general U.S. populace—especially among first-generation immigrants and those with limited proficiency in English.

The Significance of Nuance

Consider WeChat, for instance. I utilize it to subtly explore family group chats, view cooking tutorials, and catch glimpses of my cousin’s newborn. However, for my parents—first-generation Chinese Americans—WeChat is an essential resource for local, national, and global news. This slight distinction highlights a broader concern: much of the available research regards Asian Americans as a singular, tech-savvy entity, overlooking the variety of experiences and requirements within the group. It presumes that someone like me, who was born and raised in the U.S., engages with media in the same manner as a recent immigrant or an individual still mastering English.

Despite being the fastest-growing racial or ethnic demographic in the U.S., Asian Americans frequently find themselves excluded from conversations surrounding misinformation and media literacy. This deficiency in comprehension motivated my colleagues at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC to investigate further. We carried out 12 focus groups with 101 Asian Americans aged 15 to 91. We consciously included a diverse range of ethnicities, immigration histories, and language abilities. These discussions occurred in locations that hold personal significance for me: metro Detroit, Washington, D.C., and the San Francisco Bay Area.

We need to comprehend the insidious ways misinformation affects our communities.

These discussions provided us with a rare chance to hear firsthand from a diverse array of the Asian American community, including seniors in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. One significant takeaway was enlightening: for many older participants, daily survival—not politics—was their primary focus. I’ve occasionally been quick to categorize older generations as politically indifferent or disengaged, but listening to their viewpoints reminded me of the importance of empathy and grasping the motivations behind their decisions.

How U.S.-Centric Media Creates Gaps

Language barriers also influence media consumption patterns, albeit not always in the anticipated manner. In the U.S., there is often emphasis on how limited English proficiency nudges immigrants toward alternative media outlets. However, our study uncovered that second- and third-generation Asian Americans frequently grapple with limited fluency in their heritage languages, making it difficult to access news from their countries of origin. This situation leaves many of us—myself included—heavily dependent on English-language sources, which typically convey a U.S.-centric perspective.

A media platform cannot merely translate from English to, for instance, Korean and assume their content will be assimilable or comprehensible to all Korean Americans.

Translation on its own is insufficient. Cultural context and nuance are equally vital. A straightforward translation from English to another language does not ensure that the message will resonate or make sense to the intended audience. Elements like immigration backgrounds and language capabilities affect where individuals seek information. Our report, Beyond Language Translation: Asian Americans, News and Information Seeking, and the Circulation of Problematic Narratives Online, delves into these challenges in detail.

Building a More Inclusive Media Environment

Across all the communities we engaged with—from suburban Detroit to San Francisco’s Chinatown—participants conveyed a greater trust in local news organizations compared to national ones, which they perceived as more politically neutral. This was heartening to hear. In every locale I’ve called home, local journalism has helped me stay informed and connected. At a moment when reliable journalism is increasingly behind paywalls or facing political challenges, bolstering local news is more crucial than ever. Well-informed communities are better equipped to counter misinformation, scams, and conspiracy theories.

To guarantee that Asian Americans receive accurate, relevant information, we need culturally tailored media education. For instance, Vietnamese American elders who are wary of unfamiliar media platforms should be provided with media literacy initiatives in their native language, created with cultural awareness. Younger Asian Americans, who frequently obtain their news through social media and are experimenting with AI tools, require guidance on ethical and secure usage. Additionally, instead of solely translating voting resources, community organizations should clarify how the U.S. electoral system varies from those in immigrants’ home countries.

Now, more than ever, we must deepen our understanding of how misinformation impacts our communities—and discover effective methods to combat it.

Jenny Liu is the Senior Manager