These days, Romanian society is undergoing changes that will define it for the near and even distant future.
In all this turmoil, although each of us has the best intentions, we forget the very people we believe we want to protect and build a future for: the children.
As a research agency, we liked Matei’s initiative to use research as a means of consultation and information.
We decided not only to congratulate him for his unique approach but also to carry forward the results of his efforts, because only by encouraging enthusiastic initiatives can we build a future for everyone.
Why a survey among teenagers?
Matei started from the argument of the referendum that aims “to protect Romania’s children” and felt targeted by this endeavor, but without having a decisive word, because he and his colleagues do not yet have the right to vote.
Thus, at the suggestion of a colleague (Ioana), he launched a survey to find out what teenagers who do not have the right to vote, but who are capable of forming their own opinions about a subject that will influence their future, think about the referendum.
Here is what Matei says, in his own words, about how he came up with the idea for this endeavor:
There are a few days left until the referendum. Honestly, I don’t think there will be any major changes in society after the referendum, but these last few days are simply agonizing. The voices, for or against, become so sharp that they give you chills. Around me, only the conflict on this topic unfolds, which is downright annoying. I am a tenth-grade student at a high school in Bucharest and instead of thinking about the baccalaureate, college, parties, or anything else that should concern me, I am thinking about this referendum. I feel that, although I am one of Romania’s children who needs to be “protected,” my opinion doesn’t matter because I wouldn’t have the right to vote.
Matei did not let himself be influenced by the fake news phenomenon and aimed to find out directly from the source how teenagers see and are affected by this referendum.
Designing the questionnaire and collecting data
The survey questions reflect specific adolescent concerns such as friendship, but also more consistent themes, such as correct information.
Like a true professional in the making, Matei created a questionnaire that he distributed to the target audience, minor teenagers without the right to vote. The questionnaire was disseminated to friends, then on WhatsApp groups, reaching students from high schools across the country.
In just 5 days, the survey was completed by 574 students.
What I did is something completely amateur, as I have no knowledge of sociology, but I and dozens of other friends, whom I thank infinitely for what they did, got very involved so that this survey would reach our colleagues in as many high schools as possible.
Study results
Teenagers are informed
93% of the students participating in the study considered themselves sufficiently informed about the referendum to take part in the survey, which only shows that those interested accessed the survey. More than three-quarters believe that false news (fake news) has spread on the topic of the referendum.
Teenagers know their rights
Approximately 72% of participants claim they would vote “No” in the referendum, which shows a generation oriented towards a progressive and liberal society. Moreover, teenagers know their rights: 68.1% believe that the referendum will lead to the violation of certain rights.
To the question “Do you consider yourself a religious person?”, 47.7% answered affirmatively. Corroborated with the fact that 71.8% would vote “No”, it shows that a considerable number of religious people do not agree with the question asked in the referendum.
Teenagers are directly affected
The topic of the referendum affects more than half of the teenagers who responded to the survey, claiming they had direct conflicts with friends and family (39.2%) or on the Internet (11.8%).
Over 50% of respondents had conflicts with other people on the topic of the referendum, thus making it possible to observe the influence that issues debated in society have on us. At my school, I found out about classmates who argued with their parents because of this.
However, more than three-quarters of teenagers (76.5%) say they would remain friends with a person who does not share their opinion on this topic.
A research that empowers
Matei started this endeavor as a personal exercise, but for us (the adults with the right to vote) it is a lesson in lucidity and critical thinking. It remains our responsibility, as adults, to ensure them a world as they wish and as it emerges from the survey results.
I hope I have fulfilled my goal, that of showing the opinions of teenagers who will soon gain their right to vote, but not soon enough for this weekend’s referendum.
Matei, 10th grade, Grigore Moisil National College, Bucharest
You can find Matei on Facebook here 🙂
