Seven out of ten respondents admitted they lack significant knowledge on the subject, while only one in ten described themselves as well or very well informed.
The study also shows that young Romanians feel least informed about foreign affairs, this year’s elections, environmental issues, and social matters. By contrast, they consider themselves better informed about social media, pop culture, influencers, online communities, health, and education.
Researchers stress that sparking interest in politics requires discussions at home and in schools to help young people build the skills needed to make informed decisions later in life.
“From our experience working directly with young people, we believe they should not be blamed for their lack of interest in politics, since almost no one talks to them about it—neither their families, nor schools, nor the media,” said Cristina Lupu, executive director of CJI.
When it comes to trust in information, the study found that six out of ten young Romanians tend to believe something is true if it confirms what they already think—a clear sign of confirmation bias. Two in ten trust information if it comes from friends or family, or simply because it was posted online. Fewer than one in four (21.8%) consider the fact that information appeared in the media as an indicator of credibility.