Scroll, Click, Trust? Repeat

In today's fragmented media landscape, Instagram plays an increasingly prominent role as a news source for young adults, raising concerns regarding news credibility, algorithmic influence, and misinformation. This thesis explores how Dutch Instagram users aged 18 to 35 evaluate the credibility of traditional broadcaster accounts, such as @nosstories, compared to non-broadcaster news accounts, including @cestmocro and @nieuws, within the context of the ongoing Gaza conflict. Although prior research has examined news trust on platforms like Twitter or Facebook, Instagram's visually oriented and algorithmically curated environment remains understudied, especially during polarised geopolitical events. This research combines twelve semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a deductive thematic analysis, guided by media credibility theory, uses and gratifications theory, and the concepts of filter bubbles, echo chambers, and media repertoires. The findings reveal that participants' credibility assessments are shaped by political alignment, emotional engagement, habitual news routines, and platform-specific features. Traditional news outlets are generally perceived as reliable, yet participants expressed scepticism regarding perceived bias or incomplete reporting on Gaza. Non-broadcaster accounts were praised for providing immediacy and alternative perspectives, but concerns regarding sensationalism, ideological one-sidedness, and misinformation were also prevalent. Instagram's algorithm and visual presentation further shape news engagement, reinforcing selective exposure and confirmation bias. Familiarity, convenience, and social validation often influence trust perceptions, even when critical reflection is limited. These results highlight the need for stronger media literacy, platform accountability, and journalistic adaptation to meet the expectations of young audiences. By focusing on the intersection of platform dynamics, source characteristics, and user motivations, this study offers new insights into how trust in news is constructed within the algorithmically driven, highly visual environment of Instagram.