ORF Survey: These Are the Biggest Concerns of Austrians

Approximately 80,000 individuals responded to the call for the second edition of "ORF asks" and participated in an online survey on various topics. This shows 73 percent general satisfaction with their own life situation, but little optimism, reported the public broadcaster in a press release. The greatest concern of the respondents was shown to be military conflicts and the pressure to save, especially on food.

80,000 People Responded to Current Issues

From September 17 to October 8, everyday relevant topics were surveyed according to ORF. The project was accompanied and evaluated by the opinion research institute Integral. However, a sample according to scientific criteria was not drawn in the open survey, emphasized the ORF. The results are therefore not representative of the entire Austrian population. All data is available on the project website ORFfragt.at.

"The numerous feedbacks are a valuable reservoir from which conclusions can be drawn for program design at ORF," explained ORF Director General Roland Weißmann. When asked which information offerings they would like to see more often, 60 percent of participants mentioned documentaries or reports, 43 percent detailed reports and analyses, and 41 percent short information.

Concern Also About Healthcare and Migration

In addition to wars (79 percent) and rising prices (64 percent), people are concerned about the state of democracy worldwide (63 percent), the lack of cohesion in society (58 percent), and the widening gap between rich and poor (56 percent). Furthermore, people are currently equally concerned - each with 52 percent - about the economic situation and healthcare in Austria, as well as security/crime/terrorism and immigration/migration.

When asked which crisis events they consider very likely to personally or regionally affect them in the next five years, about four out of ten survey participants expect a flood/high water or a terrorist attack. 25 percent consider a military attack on Austria or war in the next five years to be very likely. Regarding the assessment of their own economic situation, 21 percent are just getting by, and for six percent, it is not enough at all. In the Austrian healthcare system, the prevention of a "two-tier medicine" is seen as the most urgent task.

Too Much on the Phone, Online Tasks Seen Positively

According to their own statements, 30 percent of respondents regularly spend more time on their phones than planned - even 55 percent among those under 30. 41 percent feel overwhelmed by developments in the digital sector, but the majority (58 percent) manage very well overall. Most people find it rather positive (71 percent) that many things can now be done online.

49 percent believe that social media divides society, 59 percent think that children should be kept away from it as long as possible, and 72 percent believe that people should talk to each other directly more often. Only ten percent see social media as an enrichment for their own lives. 15 percent think that without social media, one would not know what is really happening in the world. False information and fake news on the internet are rather difficult to recognize for 86 percent. Moreover, nine out of ten believe that fake news has an impact on our democracy.

Discussion of the Results in "How Does Austria Tick?"

Next week on Tuesday at 2:00 PM in the live stream on zukunft.ORF.at and on Friday at 1:05 PM on ORF III, the ORF Dialogue Forum "How Does Austria Tick?" will focus on the results. Klaus Unterberger, moderator and head of the ORF Public Value Competence Center, addresses the question of what contribution participatory media formats can make to strengthening democracy and society. Citizens as well as representatives from media and science participate in the discussion.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.