Information Sustainability Beyond Digital Access: Machine Learning Evidence from Local Media Ecosystems in Ecuador

Luis Saráuz-Estevez, Jessica Pupiales-Proaño, Danilo Cuaical-Tapia

The sustainability of information poses an ever-greater challenge in the digital age, particularly within local media ecosystems, where access to technology does not necessarily lead to informed participation or stronger ties with institutions. In contexts such as Ecuador, persistent inequalities shape the way people access, use and trust information, reinforcing complex forms of the digital divide. This study analyses how the sustainability of information is reflected in media consumption patterns and levels of institutional engagement within a regional context. Based on a survey of 1784 people in the province of Imbabura, the study applies a combined approach using cluster analysis and random forest models to identify distinct audience profiles. The results reveal four distinct groups, demonstrating that the intensity and diversity of media use are more relevant than mere digital access. High levels of digital use do not guarantee greater institutional engagement; instead, hybrid patterns emerge that combine traditional, digital and institutional media in different ways. The findings show that digital access alone is not sufficient to ensure information sustainability or the formation of institutional opinion. From a public policy perspective, universities and public institutions should promote digital literacy, build trust and design more targeted communication strategies to reduce information inequalities and foster informed participation.