Study: Romanians are smartphone addicted, google their names, start their day online and are early adopters of novel technologies

Romanians Google their names, as well as names of spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends and potential partners, while also being smartphone addicted, shows a recent study ordered by Google. Most Romanian start their day online, they like to write on blogs, and want to be online ‘even when on a deserted island’, according to the study, which focuses on Romania and four other countries in Central Europe. Romanians like tablets and phones more than Poles or Hungarians, and even started watching more videos online than on their TVs, the study also revealed. But only a third of Romanians use the internet every day – on average. This was the lowest ratio among the four countries studied, and was half the percentage than Hungary and Slovakia. Again a third go online the moment they wake up. Romanians are also more open to technological novelties, and early adopters of them. Vocal search, for example, has proved to be popular. Overall, 60 percent of the interviewed Romanians said they embrace novelties, the highest percentage of the four countries. Should they end up on a deserted island, Romanian women would take a computer or a smartphone with an internet connection, while for men, a knife and the online device come close among first options. The study also revealed a worrying phenomenon, smartphone addiction, as well as an addiction to always being connected. Surfing the net for interesting news and events is the main free time activity for the majority of Romanians who are connected to the Internet – 58 percent. Social networks come next – 41 percent, right after TV programs – 49 percent. The study was carried out by IIBR for Google and focus on Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, on 1,000 respondents of at least 15, who use the Internet at least once a week. editor@romania-insider.com