CJI Study: Romanian Students Spend an Average of 6 Hours a Day Online During Summer Vacation

Students in Romania spend considerably more time online during the summer, according to a recent analysis by the Center for Independent Journalism (CJI). According to data collected between February 22 and March 26, 2024 from a sample of 1,852 students, the average daily internet use reaches 6 hours for high school students, 4 hours for middle school students, and 2 hours for those in grades 3 and 4. This increase in digital consumption is mainly attributed to the more generous free time during the summer vacation and the absence of school activities, which allows children and adolescents to spend more time on social networks and other entertainment platforms.

• TikTok dominates: a third of high school students spend over 5 hours a day on the app

Social media platforms focused on quick entertainment and visual interaction, such as TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube, are the most used by Romanian students. According to the analysis: 33.3% of high school students and almost 25% of middle school students say they spend over 5 hours/day on TikTok; Another 36.2% of high school students and 32.3% of middle school students spend between 2-3 hours/day on this platform; TikTok is followed by Instagram, where 22.8% of high school students and 17.8% of middle school students spend over 5 hours daily; However, most students use Instagram for under an hour a day (26.1% high school students, 34.6% middle school students) or between 2-3 hours (33.9% high school students, 31% middle school students).

• WhatsApp and YouTube - used more moderately

WhatsApp remains one of the frequently used platforms, but in a moderate regime: over 50% of high school and middle school students say they use it for an hour or less per day (53.9% in high school, 56.1% in middle school). Regarding YouTube: approximately 36% of high school students and 40% of middle school students say they use it for a maximum of one hour per day; at the same time, another third access it between 2-3 hours daily.

• Implications for cognitive development and school performance

According to international research consulted by the CJI, such as the study Students and Digital Screens: Media Consumption and Reading Habits Before and After the Summer Holidays conducted by Badji Mokhtar University Annaba (Tunisia), unstructured time during the holidays favors an increase in digital consumption, which can have important implications on children's cognitive development, but also on subsequent school performance. Students say they use the internet mainly for: communicating with friends and family, watching entertainment content, listening to music, participating in activities on social networks.

Reader's Opinion

write your opinion here.

Accord

By writing your opinion here you confirm that you have read the rules below and that you consent to them.

Anti-Romanian comments are prohibited.
- Use decent language.
The editorial team reserves the right to remove incoherent and vulgar opinions, which includes those with anti-social, obscene, and/or insulting content, as well as those that do not pertain to the article in question.
Stupid-aggressive comments are not allowed.
Incitement to social hatred and/or xenophobia, discrimination based on gender, age, or any other nature are not accepted.
Advertising announcements are not permitted.
Do not insert links or email addresses in the text of opinions.
Deliberate repetition of the same message (or variants) can be considered propaganda; propaganda in this form is prohibited.
- Threats of any kind are not accepted.
- Harassment of BURSA's journalists is not allowed.
- Defaming the BURSA Newspaper is prohibited.
- Revealing the identity of any commentator in the opinion section without their written consent filed with the Editorial Office is not accepted.
The use of the names of BURSA's journalists for the falsification of opinion signatures is not allowed.
Name substitution is not accepted.
The editorial team reserves the right to delete opinions and restrict access to posting opinions for those who are deemed to act in bad faith.
Violations of this regulation will result in the removal of posted opinions (an equivalent of self-censorship by the author of the message, rather than censorship practiced by the newspaper).
SPECIFICATIONS:
- All opinions express the views of the authors, not the administrator (except for messages written by the administrator); we do not take responsibility for materials posted on this site by individuals not authorized by the BURSA newspaper.
- Posting a message implies tacit acceptance of this regulation.
- If you request individual responses, please provide your real email address; we will try, within the available time, to answer all your questions.