News.blog: Students rate iPods higher than beer

iPods are more 'in' than beer across American college campuses, according to the Student Monitor.

Seventy-three per cent of the 1,200 students surveyed by the US college market researcher rated iPods as an 'in' item or activity. Drinking beer and Facebook.com, the social networking site, shared a close second place, each rated as 'in' by 71 per cent of college students. 'Drinking other alcohol' was considered 'in' among 67 per cent.

Other determined 'in' items among college students this year are text messaging (66 per cent), downloading music (66 per cent), and coffee (60 per cent). MySpace.com rated 58 per cent.

Dispelling the technology gender myth, more women than men rated blogging, digital cameras, text messaging, downloading music, downloading ring tones, sharing photos online, laptop computers and iPods as being 'in'.

Males did lead overall in gaming. The PlayStation 2 was the most 'in' gaming device among men at 38 per cent, and Xbox 360 at 29 per cent.