Romanian parents see technology as a tool for their children’s education, health and future prospects, but excessive use raises their concerns about sedentary lifestyles (29%), uncontrolled online interactions (29%) and even children becoming detached from reality (28%), according to a study conducted by D&D Research on behalf of Vodafone.
The amount of time children spend in front of screens, and the effort required from parents to limit and monitor how their children use technology are becoming an increasingly difficult challenge for families. With technology constantly present, parents feel the pressure to ensure that it does not come to replace the experiences that help children develop and discover their abilities.
Around 45% of the parents surveyed are concerned about their children’s education and future, while more than 32% are concerned about their health in the context of technological development. Job security directly affects the way families manage their free time, their children’s activities, and their ability to invest more in their potential. Nearly half of the parents surveyed said that financial concerns stemming from the economic situation and inflation are a problem.
Families are not rejecting technology; rather, they recognize its positive potential for their children’s development and want it to become a resource for their children’s education (41%), physical health (31%), mental health (30%) and career guidance (25%). Beyond managing technology use, the research points to a broader concern among families about creating opportunities for children to discover and develop their potential, in a future in which technology can no longer be left out. This aspiration, however, comes at a time when financial difficulties are families’ main concern, while high costs, a lack of resources and limited financial support are becoming barriers to children’s development beyond the screens.
At the same time, the respondents to the survey were concerned about “sports losing ground” and “talents being lost along the way” as parents feel that the responsibility for getting children involved in sports activities now falls exclusively on families. Due to financial pressures, they are unable to support such activities for their children, while opportunities to identify talent are becoming increasingly limited. In contrast, three decades ago, “sport was actively promoted in schools and by the state,” the respondents believe.
Parents want to set limits and manage risks, but at the same time they do not want to miss out on the development opportunities offered by technology and today’s world.
“Parents understand the benefits of technology and are trying instead to find a balance in an environment that is far more complex than the one they grew up in. Parents want to set limits and manage risks, but at the same time they do not want to miss out on the development opportunities offered by technology and today’s world,” Dan Petre, managing partner and director of the anthropology and qualitative research departments at D&D Research, explains. “This is an increasingly prevalent pressure, which is compounded by financial concerns and the responsibility of identifying what their child could become and how they can help them get there, pointing to an expectation of a broader support ecosystem.”
The research showed that sport is one of the areas where families feel this pressure particularly strongly, confirming that the main barrier to pursuing performance sports is the high cost and lack of financial support. Fees and related logistical costs further widen inequalities between families with different income levels.
Some 81% of respondents believe that major private companies in Romania should develop programs to support children’s talents and potential. Parents see these companies as having not only the financial and human resources, but also the ability to mobilize specialists and authorities to bring about meaningful change. The areas where parents believe corporate involvement could have the greatest impact are education (53%), physical and mental health (39%), and helping children plan for their future (38%), the survey also shows. Sport is seen as a tool that can benefit children in multiple ways. Spending time exercising outdoors (45%), team sports (45%), discovering sporting talents and abilities (42%), regular participation in sports activities (40%), and developing physical skills (37%) are among the areas parents consider important.
When it comes to their children’s future, discovering their potential and helping them identify their vocation is the top priority cited by parents (51%), followed by preparing them for the jobs of the future and supporting girls in reaching their potential on an equal footing with boys in sports, education, and their careers (49%).
The research was conducted through a face-to-face sociological survey (CAPI) involving a national sample of 1,073 parents with children aged 0 to 18. The survey has a maximum margin of error of ±3.0% and a 95% confidence level. The quantitative research, conducted in September 2025, was supplemented by a qualitative stage involving focus groups.
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