CRISTIAN ANTON

Young people, individuals with low education levels and those with low incomes are more likely not to trust the information presented in the mass media, according to data from the Cultural Consumption Barometer presented on October 29 at the National Theatre Festival.

Furthermore, individuals who participate in cultural activities, whether public or private, show a higher level of social trust compared to all categories of people targeted.

According to the results, 94% of the young respondents aged between 18-35 years use the internet daily and exhibit a lower level of tolerance, are almost disinterested in social or civic participation and are less tolerant of certain social categories.

The results of the Barometer show that, regarding cultural activities carried out by the respondents in private spaces, at least once a year, there is an increase in audio-visual practices: music consumption has increased to 96% in 2022, compared to 85% in 2019, and TV program viewing has risen to 97% in 2022, up from 92% in 2019.

Furthermore, the Barometer highlights an increase in internet usage to 85% in 2022, compared to 70% in 2019, and the percentage of social media usage reached 88% in 2022, up from 79% in 2019.

In terms of online activities, significant increases have been recorded: 26% of the respondents purchased books, CDs, theater tickets and tickets for cultural events in 2022, compared to 16% in 2019. 51% of the respondents watched movies or TV programs online (Netflix, HBO GO, Voyo, etc.) compared to 27% in 2019, and visits to museum websites, libraries, festivals, theaters and pages with cultural events increased to 40% in 2022, up from 12% in 2019.

Data regarding book consumption indicate that in 2022, 56% of the respondents read printed books and 28%, books in electronic format.

94% of young people use the internet daily, have low tolerance and are completely disinterested in social participation

"The Cultural Consumption Barometer is a sociological product of very high quality and extreme importance for all those involved in culture to better understand the relationships between them and the rest of society - the manner how society could be drawn towards culture", said PhD, Prof. Andrei Țăranu, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at SNSPA.

According to the Barometer, 94% of young respondents aged between 18-35 use the internet daily. This young segment, who spends a lot of time on the internet, exhibits a lower level of tolerance, is almost disinterested in social or civic participation and is less tolerant of certain social categories.

Social trust is one of the key dimensions of democratic participation.

Respondents have the highest trust in family members (91%), people they know personally (56%) and those in the local community (38%) - the neighborhood, village or commune.

The results indicate that individuals who participate in cultural activities, both public and private, show a higher level of social trust compared to all categories of people targeted.

75% lack trust in the press, with most having confidence in news shared on their friends' social networks

Data regarding perceptions of mass media show that press organizations face a significant trust deficit.

For example, 75% of respondents have little or no trust in news distributed through any of the information channels.

The highest level of trust seems to be attributed to news published on social networks and those shared by relatives or friends: 28% of respondents say they have a lot or a great deal of trust in such information.

The Barometer also highlights the link between respondents' preference for freedom and security, as democratic values, and non-public cultural consumption.

Overall, the study's data indicates a significant preference among respondents for security (68%), as opposed to freedom (32%).

It is important to note that those who have opted for security are more likely to be loyal consumers of TV shows and programs, while those who expressed a preference for freedom have the print press (newspapers, magazines) as their primary source of information.

"The Cultural Consumption Barometer is an essential tool for public policy foundation, as few of the policies implemented in Romania can benefit from this sociological approach, can rely on empirical data, either to measure impact or to evaluate change based on indicators measured at different stages", said Dan Jurcan, Research Director of the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy (IRES).

The Cultural Consumption Barometer, an important tool for long-term policy development

The 2022 Cultural Consumption Barometer evaluates the changes recorded in cultural consumption practices, emphasizing its peculiarities among young people, and, for the first time in Romania, analyzes the relationship between culture and democracy.

"The Cultural Consumption Barometer serves as a crucial instrument for the Ministry of Culture, particularly in the context of shaping decisions aimed at developing policies and initiatives that we can promote in the long term for each cultural sector", conveyed Raluca Turcan, the Minister of Culture, in her statement.

"I particularly appreciate the fact that the research analyzes, in a pioneering approach, the relationship between culture and democracy, which is all the more important in the current international context. Culture and democracy are essential pillars of a vibrant society and they feed off each other", said Janina Sitaru, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Today, we are all witnessing a celebration. A coming-of-age celebration for the most important research study that measures the level of cultural consumption in Romania, the Cultural Consumption Barometer, a publication that has gained its reputation over time through rigorous research and a unique approach to cultural participation".

Romanians are no longer interested in culture

"The Barometer returns after the pandemic period, during which we replaced it with a study that measured intentions for cultural participation. However, we have noticed that trends persist, so we are doing slightly better than in 2021, we are on an upward trend, but we have not yet reached the level of consumption from 2019", mentioned PhD, Assoc. Prof. Carmen Croitoru, General Director of INCFC, coordinator and co-author of the study.

In terms of cultural consumption in public spaces, the effects of the pandemic are significantly felt, with the only increase being a 14 percentage point rise in the annual visits to historical monuments or archaeological sites (59% of respondents in 2022, compared to 45% in 2019).

The decreases noted in public cultural consumption include: attendance at theater performances dropped from 29% in 2019 to 20% in 2022, cinema movie viewing decreased from 35% in 2019 to 26% in 2022, visiting libraries for reading/borrowing books went from 28% in 2019 to 17% in 2022, and visiting museums, exhibitions or art galleries declined from 38% in 2019 to 30% in 2022.

"I believe that in order to make progress in what we aim to achieve, starting from the very concept of a cultural event, we need tools and studies, such as the Cultural Consumption Barometer. Through the data it provides us, INCFC contributes to aligning our initiatives with public policies and strategies", emphasized PhD, Prof. Aura Corbeanu, Vice President of UNITER and Executive Director of FNT.