Half of all British children believe online content should be free

YouGov poll shows pervasive belief in free online content among under-16s.


Almost half of British children and teens believe that people should be able to download online content for free, according to a new report from online pollsters YouGov.


The firm asked 614 children, aged 8-15, about their attitudes to online media and digital consumption, and found that 49% agree or strongly agree that "you should be able to download or access content you want for free from the internet".


"The general consensus is that digital content should be free or at least cheaper than the physical equivalent," says YouGov. "File-sharing continues to be common amongst younger adults and children. Cost, availability of content and convenience are all key motivators. However, there is evidence of growing usage of legal alternatives to file sharing. Younger adults show less concern and understanding about piracy and digital rights but are keen to see punitive action taken against providers and search engines."


Some of that belief appears to stem from a lack of faith in copyright. Less than one in ten (7%) agreed with the statement that "file sharing is a form of stealing", although 45% agreed or strongly agreed that it is wrong to access content online without the creator's permission. When asked specifically about online file-sharing such as bittorrent sites and "file lockers", support dries up. Only 6% agree that using the sites is easy and 7% agree that it has become "a normal thing to do".


"Children aged 8-15 are the key adopters of digital technology, and are likely to be more familiar with accessing content without paying," says James McCoy, YouGov's Research Director. "File sharing is most common amongst younger adults; cost and availability are key drivers."


McCoy added: "Children in this generation have grown up with digital material and are used to having access to what they want, when they want it and, for some of the time not paying for it." But it's not just file sharing driving that attitude. YouGov points out that "online services that offer a free service (usually ad-supported) such as Spotify, YouTube and Blinkbox, tend to be popular" amongst children.


"All these studies suggest the same solution to reducing unauthorized sharing: offering easy-to-use services at fair prices," says Glyn Moody at Techdirt. "When will it ever learn?"