To Örebro University

The increasing occurrence of crises in global society has left a large mark on today's society. War, terror, pandemic and climate change are examples of crises that have affected various countries in the world (MSB, u.å). Society is therefore faced with a complex risk environment, which has made communication about crises a current topic. At the same time, digitalization and the digital media landscape are developing. Generation Z has a special relationship to this as they can be described as "digital natives" (Røsok-Dahl & Ihlebæk 2024). Therefore, this study aims to investigate how young adults relate to communication about risks and crises, including how they perceive, handle and act on such information. The study is based on a qualitative research approach through in-depth interviews. Results provide a multifaceted view of how young adults relate to communication about risks and crises, though prominent finds can be brought out. It is reasonable to assume that personal experiences influence perceptions of communication about risks and crises, and that the proximity of a crisis affects the perception of its relevance. Results also imply that female respondents tend to show greater concern about communication about risks and crises than male respondents. Further, it can be stated that the sources of information used in relation to the question are, to a large extent, digital and social media. Several of the respondents, however, rely more on public service or non-profit interests. A skepticism towards social media is thus expressed, despite its frequent use. We therefore find a discrepancy between availability and reliability. The analysis indicates that respondents with an ongoing university education tend to have a more source-critical approach to communication about risks and crises. Finally, the results suggest that respondents are aware of and concerned about crises, but nevertheless choose not to act in the form of practical preparedness. They describe this as being due to social norms, and that crises feel distant.