Fact, fake, or false: Determining millennials’ susceptibility to media effects on disaster information

The widespread use of digital media platforms and the increasing presence of artificial intelligence-generated online content have transformed how disaster-related information is accessed, interpreted, and shared, raising concerns regarding millennials’ susceptibility to media effects. This study aimed to determine the level of millennials’ susceptibility to media effects in terms of dispositional, developmental, and social factors and identify whether respondents’ profile variables influence susceptibility to media effects on disaster information. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed using quota purposive sampling, with 307 millennial respondents exposed to disaster-related content through various digital media platforms. Data were gathered using a validated and reliability-tested researcher-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to determine the influence of profile variables on susceptibility. Findings revealed that millennials exhibit a high level of susceptibility to media effects on disaster-related information. Social factors obtained the highest influence, indicating the strong role of peer interaction, social validation, and online engagement in shaping perceptions and responses to disaster content. Regression results showed that age and educational attainment significantly influence susceptibility, while gender, frequency of media use, and reasons for social media use do not. Facebook was widely used but not a significant predictor, whereas X (Twitter) and YouTube significantly influence susceptibility due to updates and visual content. Overall, susceptibility is shaped by cognitive, developmental, and social processes within digital environments. The findings emphasize the need to strengthen media literacy, critical thinking, and fact-checking skills to reduce vulnerability to misinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content in disaster contexts.