Young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are present online, but not where they matter to their career. Seven young people out of 10 use the Tiktok network, but when it comes to professional networks, interest decreases dramatically.
Photo EPA EFE
A specialized study shows that only 37.06% have an account on LinkedIn, compared to 72% with the age of 26-40 years that have a account on this platform.
The APSAP Training Center conducted a study, on a sample of 1,211 respondents, between the ages of 18 and 60, from the urban and rural areas, which offers a detailed image in how Romanians use social networks. The analysis reveals not only differences between the chosen platforms, but also significant differences between the favorite and distributed content types, according to age and gender.
“Basically, we can conclude that scrolling beats networking, and the professional future can wait. Those between the ages of 18 and 25 are part of the generation that has grown together with technology, were born in digital era and can be called digital natives. These young people are accustomed to technology, and for them, the interaction with online platforms is intuitive, consumes quickly and frequently visually and prefers online interaction to the detriment of the face.said Bogdan-Costin Fârșirotu, president of the APSAP training center and the founder of the Cursuri-functionari.ro platform.
For digital immigrants, respectively people who have been exposed to digital technology later in life and who have not grown in this connected reality, professional platforms such as LinkedIn have a much greater relevance, and their use for professional networking and development is significantly more common compared to young people. In general, they have a more formal relationship with technology, and adaptability to new platforms and types of content is lower than in the case of digital natives.
Young people online according to studies
When it comes to social networks, the level of studies significantly influences the platform where they spend time online. Nearly 6 out of 10 high school graduates are captive in the Tiktok platform, but only 22% made the step towards LinkedIn. At the opposite end, 40% of those with postgraduate studies are active on the networking platforms, a sign that the professional future matters more than the viral trends. In other words, education not only opens minds, but also changes the digital preferences algorithm.
Only 10% of young people still consider television a relevant source of information
The media landscape has changed especially in the last year, and the way people choose to be informed reflect this transformation. The study conducted by the APSAP Training Center shows that 5 out of 10 young people take their information about social-political events on social networks, while only 2 out of 10 people between 41 and 50 years old resort to this method, still preferring television and sites established as the main source of information.
“The phenomenon is extended at European level. Social networks have taken over the information pole, and the classic television seems convicted of irrelevance. A 2024 European Parliament study shows that 42% of young people between 16 and 30 take their socio-political information on social mediawhile the television survives on the second place, with 39%, being preferred especially by the 25-30 years segment.
But the data from the study of APSAP, carried out at the end of the same year, confirms an even more cruel reality for television, at least in Romania: Only 10% of young people between the ages of 18-30 have a relevant source of information. The rest moved their attention permanently online. In short, the TV has become decor, And the news is now consumed by scroll, not by remote control ”declares Anca Bașturea, specialist in APSAP training center.
Another aspect analyzed in our study is the time spent daily on social networks. 76% of young people between the ages of 18 and 30 admit that they spend between 2 and 4 hours daily on social platforms. Thus, young people get to spend almost a day a week only on social networks. In contrast, only 6% of people over 50 spend the same time interval on social media, emphasizing the differences in digital behavior between the generation of digital natives and digital immigrants.
How well Romanians believe they can identify fake news
If we made a comparison between the results obtained in a study conducted by the European Union in 2023 on identifying the false content and verifying the veracity of the information accessed online and the results of our study we notice that 70% of young people between the ages of 18-30 believe that they can identify Fake News, compared to 36% European average. The quite large difference between Romanians and the European average surprises us and confirms that we have an increased tendency for excessive valuation in relation to the population in Europe.
The algorithms of the social platforms are designed to customize the displayed content, depending on the user’s profile, the interactions it has in the online environment and its preferences. In the case of those who have difficulty identifying false news, this mechanism can contribute to strengthening certain beliefs, by repeated exposure to a certain type of content. Thus, users can especially see information that confirms their existing opinions, reducing contact with various or even opposite perspectives, thus reaching the strengthening of ideas that turn into beliefs.
To navigate more efficiently in the digital space, the development of critical thinking and information verification skills becomes essential. Increasing the rank of awareness on how algorithms and their impact works can help users to form more balanced opinions, make informed decisions and develop other skills such as: recognizing emotional manipulation (sensational titles), analyzing images and videos with the help of “tools”.
Protection of mobile devices: security habits of Romanians
9 out of 10 Romanians use a method of protection for the security of the phone, regardless of gender, age or marital status, motivating the need for security (banking data), autonomy and control, limits and even fear of abuse. About 40% of people in a relationship allow your partner to have access to your mobile phone. In contrast, almost 90% of single people say that no one has access to the phone, except for family members.
The results of the study carried out by the APSAP training center offer a complex image of the way in which Romanians “interact” with the online environment. The preference of young people for entertainment platforms such as Tiktok, the differences between the sources of information according to the environment of origin and the discrepancies between the types of content distributed and consumed are factors that could influence the long -term perception and communication of information in society. Also, gender and age differences in the use of social networks highlight the need for communication strategies adapted to the specifics of each segment, to counteract the misinformation phenomenon and promote a critical and responsible information consumption.
The study not only highlights the current trends, but also provides valuable data for the decision makers, the education system, the communication specialists who are obliged to adapt their contents, the presentation and evaluation according to the dynamics of the information consumption in the digital age.
