High school study shows love for Apple, P2P music sharing

In today's episode of "no surprises here," we look at a recent study published by Piper Jaffray & Company which attempts to take an intimate look inside the minds of high schoolers across the US. As you'd probably expect, none of the results were all that shocking. When asked about MP3 players, some 82-percent of those that already owned some form of DAP stated that it was an iPod, which was slightly up from last fall. Additionally, 64-percent of those surveyed admitted to downloading music illegally, which may actually be an (ever-so-slightly) positive figure considering that the percentage actually dropped from 72-percent in 2006. As for the iPhone, just 3-percent of students claimed that they owned one, but nearly 10-percent stated that they were looking to pick one up "within the next six months."

[Via CNET, image courtesy of MSN]

[Spencer @ Oct 13th 2007 7:27AM]

Of course...All cool kids have apple gadgets.
Only emos and geeks use Zune... :p

[jilie @ Oct 12th 2007 7:45PM]

OMG!! APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE APPLE

[Jeff @ Oct 12th 2007 7:52PM]

...and an Apple too.

[andi @ Oct 12th 2007 8:17PM]

they should also aks the sexual preferences when doing apple polls...

..blah, they actually don't need to... the love for apple says more than a straightforward question..

'come out of the closet, get a macbook!'

[fischju @ Oct 12th 2007 8:53PM]

Too many apples...I've lsot respect for all the iPhone carrying 16 year olds (not that I had much before....)

And they lied about music because of the recent RIAA case

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 12th 2007 10:12PM]

http://applegadget.x10hosting.com/

:)

[jilie @ Oct 12th 2007 11:21PM]

you got the spirit imacmatt09

[Robert @ Oct 12th 2007 8:16PM]

in my classes in high school, every class of mine has at least 4 iPhones
ipod is ike 3/4 of everyone in my class

[Jeff @ Oct 12th 2007 8:32PM]

Can they find the U.S. on a map?

I personally believe that U.S. Americans have a problem with that.

[Derry Quinn @ Oct 12th 2007 8:38PM]

US Americans? What other americans can you get? :P
Yeah, I hate america too.

[Brad @ Oct 12th 2007 8:57PM]

Central Americans, South Americans....
US Americans is a distinction everyone OUTSIDE of the US understands.

[thumbs @ Oct 12th 2007 9:05PM]

derry obviously missed the refference

[Josh @ Oct 12th 2007 9:36PM]

Up until your politically correct politicians decided to change "American" embassies to "United States" embassies - the only type of american known throughout the world would be one from the United States. Not to mention the fact that this country is pretty damn selfish anyways. So in conclusion - American roughly translates to a US citizen everywhere in the world, including your friendly South American and Central American populations.

So next time, study a little history before you jump out and shout something stupid.

[Ignacio @ Oct 12th 2007 10:33PM]

"So in conclusion - American roughly translates to a US citizen everywhere in the world, including your friendly South American and Central American populations. "

Actually, in many countries over here (South America) that isn't true, we use "North Americans".

[firebat45 @ Oct 12th 2007 11:52PM]

I'd like to point out too that a country called "Canada" exists. We have just as much claim to call ourselves American as a USA citizen. The only difference is, we will never call ourselves that, because people would assume by American, we meant USA. And no Canadian I know would want to be mistaken for a US citizen.

[Sam Winter @ Oct 14th 2007 4:57PM]

@firebat
so unfortunately true. Although I think there is still some hope for this country. The only reason Dipshit Bush is in office with his cronies is because there are three groups that represent just about 49% (Gore won the popular vote in 2000) of the population of the USA that act as the neoCONS base:
1)Ignorant rural rednecks
2)Moronic christian fundamentalists/"the earth is 5,000 years old and humans and dinosaurs lived together" in the bible-belt south
3)Greedy, narcissist eat-their-own-children-for-money corporate/wallstreet types

The other 51% are social democrats or left-leaning independents. It only takes a little bit of skew to change the entire future of this country. Hopefully in 2008, democrats will take a 60%+ majority in the house and senate AND take the whitehouse. Then we'll turn this country around from implosion and actually become a global partner with our friends to the north and across the pond.

[Brad @ Oct 15th 2007 2:02AM]

"Actually, in many countries over here (South America) that isn't true, we use "North Americans"."

Zero for two there, Josh-y-boy. Next time, you might want to be a little more culturally aware, and focus less on what your one class in Ms. Thompson's 5th Grade US history class taught you.

[Dan @ Oct 12th 2007 7:49PM]

I guess some people on engadget are mad they don't have an iphone

[Jeff @ Oct 12th 2007 7:53PM]

"As for the iPhone, just 3-percent of students claimed that they owned one, but nearly 10-percent stated that they were looking to pick one up "within the next six months.""

Looking? Yeah sure, kid. That translates into: "If I can con my mommy into buying one".

[danny @ Oct 12th 2007 8:19PM]

I'm a senior in high school and I've WEEKLY made enough to by an iPhone since 9th grade (the summer before, actually). Awesome stereotyping though.

[Brad @ Oct 12th 2007 8:52PM]

Considering the average national annual income of a highschool student who IS working is about $11,500, or $230 BEFORE TAXES. You being able to afford one (and the associated ~$2000 cost of owning one over two years) puts you in a very narrow group, probably about 1% of working high school students make more than $400 after taxes, which is WAY less than 10% total.

At least we know you're honest about being in high school. Assuming that a statistic generalization applies equally to everyone is a function of "The world revolves around me" syndrome, which most people shed around the age of 19. Not all though.

[Josh @ Oct 12th 2007 9:32PM]

Get off his back. My whole group of freinds makes enough to pay for that. I don't know about the rest of the US, but i had to pay my entire car insurance payment since i have had my car (well over 2000$ a year).

So next time, before you go and flip shit on someone, calm down, there are ALWAYS exceptions to your opinions, even the ones you perceive as being smart.


As for the actual post, from my experiences, it seems pretty accurate until you get to the # of students downloading illegally.

[Brad @ Oct 15th 2007 2:00AM]

@Josh: Please re-read the part about "World revolves around me", and then read and take the time to process the following:

1) The phrase "flip shit" means no one will ever take you seriously. See the ranking of your comment.
2) You do not represent the majority of high school students. I've already pointed out how statistics don't apply to everyone equally, and aren't meant to. Saying "this doesn't apply to me" doesn't invalidate the statistic, it just means you're not close to the center of the distribution of high-school incomes.
3) The original poster's claim that he made enough every week to pay for an iPhone is dubious. Most (again, not all) states in the US limit the number of hours per week a minor can work to 20 or less (also disqualifies you from earning Social Security in CA at least). The claim that in 20 hrs this kid earns enough to pay for a $430 toy means that he's making at least $25/hr. This is NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION, but it does put them in the severe minority.

The generalization holds. QED.

[Spartacus @ Oct 12th 2007 8:01PM]

So the number of students lying because they were afraid to get busted for illegal downloading went up 8% huh? Is it just me, or do all the politicians that have said our children are our most valuable resource look foolish knowing that if their laws were enforced 64% of that resource would be bankrupt for life?

[Danny @ Oct 12th 2007 8:02PM]

In related news, water is wet.

[Brad @ Oct 12th 2007 8:55PM]

Study summary:

"Highschool students don't understand how they're being manipulated by marketing and abused by restrictive software and DRM, continue to prefer Apple until they try to get their first job."

[Alex M @ Oct 12th 2007 9:29PM]

@brad yea
I own an insignia video player and a zv:W
I'm not restricted AT ALL :)

[Penguin Warlord @ Oct 13th 2007 10:17AM]

@ Brad

Yes and they also realize that the iPod is like owning brand name clothing. How is that at all surprising. High school kids have always wanted whats "in" and in this case it's the ipod. And guess what it's a not half bad mp3 player too.

[kai @ Oct 12th 2007 8:11PM]

"When asked about MP3 players, some 82-percent of those that already owned some form of DAP stated that it was an iPod"

I think that number is waaaay skewed. Hell, 82% of the people I know think *any* DAP is an "iPod."

[Sam @ Oct 12th 2007 8:17PM]

HS students know if they own a iPod or not.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 12th 2007 8:07PM]

totally right Dan.

[Danny @ Oct 12th 2007 8:08PM]

There are around 18 M high school students in the US. If 3% had iPhones that would mean that high schoolers have purchased 540,000 of all the iPhones sold. Last I heard just over a million had been sold so high schoolers are responsible for close to 50% of iPhones sales? You know, I would actually call that shocking.

[LukeA @ Oct 12th 2007 8:47PM]

I, a high school junior, was recently at an event with what I would call a cross-section of highschoolers. I believe this 3% number.

[Syd @ Oct 12th 2007 8:29PM]

When I was in high school, I had an AM/FM radio, and a TI-58c Programmable Calculator.

[peter_pieus @ Oct 12th 2007 8:30PM]

I don't know if Engadget is giving me news or just telling me to go buy an Apple product.

[Josh @ Oct 12th 2007 9:37PM]

You mean to say you don't already own one? //sarcasm

[Josue @ Oct 12th 2007 8:33PM]

What a bunch of fairies, at my poor ass inner city school only the rich kids have an iphone, and surprisingly a lot of kids have the Helio ocean phone, and it's true most kids believe any DAP is an ipod.

[Zenshai @ Oct 12th 2007 8:50PM]

Ipod is another term for mp3 player or dap. For dumb people that is. Just like all electronic music is techno. So yea those results might be wrong there.

Also, the lower amount of people willing to admit the DLed songs, may be directly related to all the news lately about people getting sued for god-only-knows how much.

[Alex M @ Oct 12th 2007 9:42PM]

Would you consider Rammstein electronic? cuz I sure as hell don't :P

[Ethan @ Oct 12th 2007 8:56PM]

Low ranked means your opinion is bad.

[Nathan Kocher @ Oct 12th 2007 10:25PM]

high schoolers want to be cool so they buy a macbook
high schoolers are poor so they steal music

[oneleggedchewbacca @ Oct 15th 2007 5:01PM]

I am a little surprised at the number of comments coming from High School age folks in this thread. Is it just cause it's Friday night (no insult intended)?
Is it just because this particalur post was about High School'rs?
Or is this ratio of High School commenters to all commenters actually typical of most Engadget comment threads?

If this is typical, then I'm not sure what that tells me...
- Am I impressed that this many youths are into the smarter-side of the web (when compared to ebaumsworld, and the like)? - Maybe they're not all fad-jean-wearing/silly-haircut-sporting/most-marketed-gadget-toting/"energy"-drink-slurpers, after all?
- Or is my standard for 'the smarter side of the web' comparable to what many others would just call: "Where those young folks go to talk about their toys, and the toys they wish they had."?

(For reference, I'm 32, but have always been too practical/dull/responsible to relate to most people less than 10 years older than me)

[Jamar0303 @ Oct 14th 2007 8:47AM]

I'm certainly not the fad-following type, and neither is most of my school, although it helps that the most marketed gadgets in my area are usually gray-market imports (Sharp/Toshiba phones are remarkably popular where I live, as are Korean import phones, but that's because the Koreans need to text each other in Hangul rather than a desire for cutting edge stuff) as opposed to Apple stuff (I live in China- the iPods are made here, dammit, and they cost MORE than in America).

[france.justin @ Oct 14th 2007 7:39PM]

Way to lie down and accept that you're a judgemental dick.

"Those kids today, loud music, RAP sucks" etc etc

One day your boss will most probably be 10 years younger than you, a forward thinking, intelligent open-minded individual that (luckily for you) won'tt have the same restricted world-view you do.

Otherwise, it's "the older generation are cranky, bad-driving geezers" etc etc. Sure, you're only 32, but you seem to be lying down and waiting for that stereotype to really come to fruition. So

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 12th 2007 10:54PM]

I remember when i was in grade 11 and got a rio pmp 300 no one knew was mp3 even was.

how times change

[Jamar0303 @ Oct 12th 2007 11:05PM]

Heh- half of the people at my school use cheap Chinese-made DAPs, the kind found on "Keeping It Real Fake", because they're too cheap to get a real one(but a couple do it because they're anti-Apple/Sony/Creative/Microsoft). That, or their cellphones (those with Nokia S60 and Walkman phones, me with my Toshiba 904T and the one sophomore with a Sharp 903) or their PSPs. Only a small group of people use iPods because they cost more where I live than in the US.

[diabolusunknown @ Oct 13th 2007 12:55AM]

Ive always wondered what the "real" marketshare for mp3 players are, considering that alot of people own those cheap versions, yet are never asked if they own one in polls.

If those are taken into account, im sure Apple'$ ipods are in an extreme minority of total mp3 players owned.

[ethana2 @ Oct 13th 2007 4:10AM]

I've searched the whole interweb for you! Give me back my Whuffie!

...Your last name doesn't start with an 'a', does it, Ethan?

[fonehunter @ Oct 13th 2007 10:41AM]

Is this some kind of brain washing or subliminal apple marketing again? Come on engadget, cut the crap!