Online Information Exposure, Knowledge Development, and AI Anxiety: Extending the Cognitive Mediation Model to Explain GenAI Adoption in China

Lunrui Fu, Mulin Jiang, Bo Hu, Yunsong Li, School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University

Social Science Computer Review

Published online on March 26, 2026

Abstract

Social Science Computer Review, Ahead of Print.
As Generative AI (GenAI) becomes increasingly integrated into everyday information environments, many individuals remain uncertain or reluctant to engage with these technologies despite their growing potentials. By extending the Cognitive Mediation Model (...