A study recently published by the NBD group, an independent research firm, finds that seventy percent of tweens (children aged nine to fourteen) are skipping illegal downloading in favor of pay sites such as Apple’s iTunes, which was named by forty-nine percent of those polled as their primary music source. While this seems like a rosy prediction and an affirmation of the movement to stop illegal downloading, the more interesting number is that thirty percent of these are downloading music illegally at such an early age. According to the American Cancer Society, only twelve percent of middle school students have tried smoking, and various studies by school systems put alcohol use at twenty percent. Though alcohol and tobacco use are clearly more harmful physically to the students, that illegal downloading is more prevalent indicates that music is more readily available for consumption. Given that most people don’t do anything illegal from the age of nine to fourteen, only getting the bronze medal in the category should be slightly disheartening.  Another aspect of “tween” computer use left unaddressed by the study is that middle schoolers most likely have closer parental supervision and less computer knowledge. They might not be more honest than older kids; they could just be biding their time.  [Hypebot]