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BSA study says illegal downloading down among youths

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 May 2007 3:57 User comments (19)

BSA study says illegal downloading down among youths According to the results of nationwide survey released by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), illegal downloading of copyrighted works by youths aged 8-18 is down 24 percent since 2004.
The survey, which was first conducted in 2004, showed that for this year, the percentage of participants who reported downloading software, music, movies or games without buying it was at 36 percent compared to the hefty 60 percent it was in 2004.

There were many reasons given by the youths as to why the illegal downloading stopped, but the most common were; fear of accidentally downloading a computer virus (62 percent), getting into legal trouble (52 percent) and accidentally downloading spyware (51 percent). 48 percent of the youths also reported they feared getting in trouble with their parents.

“This study indicates that parents represent a growing and effective influence on the online practices of youth,”
said Diane Smiroldo, vice president of public affairs for BSA. “But, while decreases in downloading are encouraging over recent years, youth are still taking too many risks online. We hope that parents continue to take seriously their role in helping their children make the right choices online.”



Some other results when compared to the 2004 and 2006 editions of the survey:

-Software piracy was down to 11 percent from double that in 2004.

-In 2007, 30 percent of youth admitted to downloading music without paying, compared to 32 percent in 2006 and 53 percent in 2004.

- Movie piracy was down to 8 percent, from double that in 2004.

Source:
aviransplace

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19 user comments

123.5.2007 16:42

Because You Say So Does Not Make It True, Right, or Correct. Your Reporting May Say What You Want Everyone to Believe, But as For Myself, I Want to See From Where, From What, and Who You Got Your Information. If Not Your Reporting is A Falsehood and a Dream. I,m From Missouri, You'll Have to -Show-Me-!!

223.5.2007 17:07

Duh... everyone has downloaded everything they wanted since 2004. Now, they are just adding some of the new, rare good tunes.

323.5.2007 18:00

wildebill, it's really hard to focus on what you're saying when you capitalize the first letter of each word. It Is Very Distracting.

I could believe this article. It makes sense to me. Also, I sometimes get the feeling that "the youth" has bare minimum knowledge of using a computer. I don't see the majority of youthful kids out there learning how to pirate stuff, because they have been basically taught how to use a word processor, instant messenger, and upload soft core porn onto Myspace.

--Moomoo2

423.5.2007 18:24

all their doing is rising up the RIAA ego asuming their heads dont explode first..

523.5.2007 18:58

Sorry it is just my old english school teacher Mrs. Smith 5th grade.
They site a report, and I read some of the links. One or two can be wrong but not one hundred. I would like to see more substance and meat about the "Report". The five W's who what when where and why.

623.5.2007 19:51

If its ture I weep for the sheeple....become enlighten and know sharing is not stealing but boycotting.

=^0^=

723.5.2007 19:57

Quote:
I don't see the majority of youthful kids out there learning how to pirate stuff, because they have been basically taught how to use a word processor, instant messenger, and upload soft core porn onto Myspace.
'

lol, yeah its true. half the kids in my school are computer illiterate. My 13 year old brother doesn't even know how to uninstall a program, yet he has 5 instant messenging clients installed, quite easily the lamest myspace ever, and like I said he is basically computer illiterate. kids these days, geesh

823.5.2007 20:17

Quote:
...like I said he is basically computer illiterate. kids these days, geesh
My sister passed a computer science (word, access, etc.) but couldn't remove something from the startup list. She can't troubleshoot worth a crap.

923.5.2007 21:03

I guess living in a third-world country does have it's advantages :D. All these organizations/companies trying to stop pirated material from spreading, illegal downloading etc. have ignored many countries. Here where I live every PC has limewire on it and everyone knows how to download illegal stuff. It's like bootleg paradise here!

1023.5.2007 22:00
pigfister
Inactive

i'm sure the MPAA, RIAA and other 4 letter a hole bodies will dispute these facts so they can continue to wage war on the college kids.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 31 May 2007 @ 7:39

1124.5.2007 05:45

Quote:
48 percent of the youths also reported they feared getting in trouble with their parents.
I would say this would be the major factor why it would be down and not the MPAA or the RIAA.

1224.5.2007 10:20
REAM
Inactive

im 17, and i am pir8ing much less than i used to....

there is one reason only.

MONEY


i got a job, so i dont mind buying software. i buy my games. im even goign to buy vista :O, the first OS i will ever buy.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 May 2007 @ 10:21

1324.5.2007 10:22

Screwy math...

A reduction from 60% to 36 % is not a 24% reduction! It's a 40% reduction. ...If 30% were curently downloading, that would be half as many... a 50% (not 30%) reduction.

And no, you can't trust a survey when it involves anything illegal, immoral, embarrasing, etc.

1424.5.2007 10:35

Originally posted by DVDdoug:
Screwy math...

A reduction from 60% to 36 % is not a 24% reduction! It's a 40% reduction. ...If 30% were curently downloading, that would be half as many... a 50% (not 30%) reduction.

And no, you can't trust a survey when it involves anything illegal, immoral, embarrasing, etc.
It meant 24% of those who took the servey.

1524.5.2007 12:33

the reason people have slowed downloading is because it isn't cool to sit at home and do anything. think back to your high school days (or ahead for some of you) was the popular kids the science and math "geeks" or was it the football player/cheerleader that went out and got hammered every Friday and Saturday night? Of course those guys are now bagging our groceries because they killed all their braincells but this "study" is only restricted to 8-18 year olds.

1624.5.2007 20:14

exactly, and i can't picture any of those jocks sitting at a PC downloading music or sofware

1730.5.2007 03:51

escalante, I am sure you are right. They will be after you next. Not that they have hit the USA very hard. They have hit it just enough to add a bit of risk to downloading. That is enough to change habbits. I suspect the report is accurate. 50% of the students will not admit to illegal downloading. They still may be doing it but they are not so open and are probably more careful if and when they do. Still, this is great news for the media maffia. Their work is paying off.

1830.5.2007 07:58

Originally posted by DVDdoug:
Screwy math...

A reduction from 60% to 36 % is not a 24% reduction! It's a 40% reduction. ...If 30% were curently downloading, that would be half as many... a 50% (not 30%) reduction.

And no, you can't trust a survey when it involves anything illegal, immoral, embarrasing, etc.
That is because they received that answer from a 60-36=24 calculation which is in decimal form and not percentage like the numbers being calculated.

EDIT- Oh, and no you cant trust those kinds of surveys because a lot of the people wont fess up.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 30 May 2007 @ 8:00

1930.5.2007 12:07

You are being too technical. The real point is not what is really happening you can't survey that by interviews. That is being done as well but that info is not being shared. That is obviously because that information would not be helpful to 'their cause'. I would suspect the actual number of down loads is at least 10 times what is estimated. I also suspect the number is actually going down not up or at least what ever the trend is looks good to the MM. Otherwise, they would be more relentless in their attacks. The areas that are unaffected by their mild intimidation are getting slammed. I would expect once everyone is in line there may be an increase pressure to furthur reduce down loading.

Back to my point, students have changed their aditude. That is the news not what they are really doing. Aditudes must change before there is a change in behavior. The MM has gotten many students to blink.

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