iPhones, iPods, iPads, MacBooks, iMacs. Everywhere there are apples with a bite taken out of them. So why are Apple products so popular with teenagers? Are they a symbol of popularity? A sign that someone is a ‘normal teenager’ if they have one? With the recent release of the new iPhone 6 and the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus, iPhones are growing in size and starting to resemble tablets, leading to the rise in popularity of ‘phablets’.

Most teenagers have, at some point in their lives, asked for an Apple product from their family members, whether it was an iPad for Christmas or even the new iPhone 6 for their next birthday. In particular, the iPhone is popular among young people; roughly 90% of Sixth Formers at Streatham and Clapham High School have an iPhone. When interviewed about her ownership of Apple products, a student said “both my parents and I have iPhones, I have a MacBook Air and my younger sister has an iPod. At home, we have an iPad and iMac”. When questioned as to why the iPhone is so popular, she replied “I think it’s what people see as the best phone out there. For me, it’s the appearance of the phone, the features such as the camera and large range of apps and, of course, the fact that it’s an iPhone”.

When I started secondary school, I had the Sony Ericsson Cyber-Shot, a phone that was popular in 2009. It was regarded as relatively new technology, with a 3.2 megapixel camera and internet access. However, it remained my phone until Year 9 and I witnessed other people constantly changing their phones to Nokias, Blackberrys then eventually iPhones. My friends could not understand why I would choose to keep my ‘brick’ for three years when I was given the opportunity at birthdays to upgrade my phone. In truth, I did not need a new phone as I could happily access social media, text and call friends and family. I realised that the main reason (apart from the phone being broken) why teenagers ask for a new phone was due to the appearance and media hype of new technology. The iPhone can access the internet and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. But so can any other phone. The iPhone can take high quality pictures and videos. So can other Android smartphones, which have been overshadowed by the rise of the Apple iPhone.

Why follow the trend? There are many other phones on the market that can perform the same functions that an iPhone can. Although the iPhone does have many excellent features, teenagers should think twice before wanting a new Apple product: is it really necessary or are you just following the crowd? 

 

Ellen To, Streatham and Clapham High School