Investigating the Israeli media environme; trends and approaches – Mehr News agency RCO News Agency
Mehr News Agency – Iernational Group: The media environme in Israel is shaped by dynamic ieractions between traditional and digital platforms and is influenced by social, political factors and technological developmes. Rece surveys and reports show significa trends in social media use, attitudes toward censorship, and the overall digital environme in Israel.
Trends and use of social media
By early 2024, about 74.9 perce of Israel’s population, equivale to approximately 6.92 million people, are active social media users. This figure represes a slight decrease from previous years, with the number of users falling by around 140,000 (-2.0%) from early 2023 to early 2024. Despite a high penetration rate of 92.1% for iernet use, engageme with political and social issues on these platforms is significaly low.
Political ieraction
Only 22 perce of Israelis report that they frequely post or share about political or social issues. This figure has decreased to 36% in 2022.
Attitudes towards censorship
A Pew Research Ceer poll shows that a majority of Israelis support censorship of some types of coe related to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas. Specifically:
76% of Jews and 57% of Arabs wa to censor graphic violence.
Also, 91% of Jews believe that posts that support Hamas should be removed.
These findings indicate the population’s cautious approach to sharing sensitive coe online.
Consumption of digital media
The fascination with digital media consumption has grown significaly in Israel. The media market is increasingly influenced by digital platforms, reflecting consumers’ preference for streaming services over traditional television and pri media.
The growth of streaming services
The rise of local streaming platforms has been dramatic due to consumer demand for accessible coe. This shift reflects a broader preference for an on-demand viewing experience.
Advertising trends
Digital advertising coinues to grow as businesses adapt to changing consumer behaviors. The iegration of social media io everyday life has made it a vital channel for marketing and dissemination of information.
Cultural and ideological divisions
Israel’s media environme also reflects deep ideological divisions among its citizens:
Censor preferences
Opinions about what should be allowed on social media vary widely based on political ideology. For example, 76 perce of right-wingers believe that posts showing sympathy for Gaza civilians should be censored, compared to only 25 perce of leftists.
Criticism of the governme
Supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu’s governme are more likely to support censoring posts critical of the governme’s actions during the conflict (69 perce), compared to non-supporters (39 perce).
These ideological divisions not only affect individual behavior online, but also shape the broader conversation in Israeli society.
Israel’s media environme is rapidly evolving, with significa implications for how information is shared and consumed. The increasing penetration of digital platforms reflects changing consumer preferences, while social and political factors coinue to influence attitudes toward censorship and public discourse. As digital engageme grows, understanding these trends will be esseial to navigating the complexities of media consumption in Israel.
the author; Saeed Ghaffari
