Information seeking among latinos in the midwestern United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper is the first to present a study of information behavior of Latinos in the Midwestern U.S. It begins addressing gaps in knowledge about Latinos, particularly immigrants, and their information seeking and use of the mobile, social web in rural areas of the U.S. Midwest. Interviews were conducted in 2016 and 2017 with 20 Midwestern Latinos – 15 immigrants to the United States and five native‐born. We find that interviewees use many well‐known social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube as well as online resources to meet their information needs. Many prefer to consult trusted sources, making social media access desirable. Midwestern Latinos have adopted a number of the same information seeking practices as other immigrants and marginalized peoples, which may be different from practices of dominant populations in rural areas. Given their preferences, Latinos we interviewed will be best served by access to trusted information in the languages they speak, often presented orally such as in video format. For this, a reliable internet connection and internet‐enabled device are key.

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