Kids just say no!

Now, I have no idea what kind of messed up kid would actually admit to downloading things illegally in a survey, but the kids, they don't know what the jazz is all about, y'see. They listen to the rap music, which gives them the brain damage. Sorry, I went all Bill Cosby on you there for a second. Apologies in advance for the inevitable Cosby-style ending to this post, too.

This survey says kids don't do illegal file downloading. Well, not as much of it at any rate.

The reason?

Ad/Spy/Mal/Oh Noes-Ware.

That's right, Little Jimmy has been scared off the ranch by Captain Malware. Check out the figures:

2004: 22 % of kids illegally downloaded software
2006: 14 %

2004: 53 % of kid illegally downloaded music
2006: 32%

2004: 32 % of kids illegally downloaded games
2006: 25 %

2004: 17 % of kids illegally downloaded movies
2006: 10%

Maybe it's just me, but the obvious hole in thinking here is that the kids might have just, you know, got smart and decided telling complete strangers with "surveys" they downloaded fifteen gigs of movies last night is a bad move?

"This study indicates that kids understand the consequences of illegal downloading, and that education and awareness about the risks, as well as online sites to legally download content have been a critical component in affecting these behaviors," says Diane Smiroldo, vice president of public affairs for BSA. "But still far too many young people are acting inappropriately online."

Yeah, damn inappropriate kids! With their films and their music and their Pokemon, with the pokey and the mon and the thing where the guy comes out of the thing and he makes a fraaagh fr fra aagh aagh aagh!

In conclusion - illegal file sharing will be around forever. As will bad Bill Cosby lines.