Skip to main content

Study: Nearly 80 percent of college students can’t figure out QR codes

QR-Codes-scan
Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to a recent study conducted by youth marketing company Archrival, the majority of college students with smartphones have no idea how to scan a QR (Quick-Response) code. The study was conducted with over 500 college students across 24 different college campuses. While 81 percent of students owned a smartphone and 80 percent were familiar with the concept of a QR code, only 21 percent were able to scan a provided QR code when asked. Of the 79 percent that were unable to scan the code, some tried and ultimately gave up while others attempted to take a picture of the code with the built-in camera. Others complained of the process taking too long and some students didn’t want to download an app to scan it. 

Recommended Videos

QR-code-collegeThe result of the study found that 75 percent of college students are “Not Likely” to scan a code in the future. This trend should serve as a warning sign to advertisers attempting to reach a younger demographic through QR codes. According to Bart Johnston, the Interactive Director at Archrival, students with Android phones were most proficient at scanning QR codes followed by iPhone users, BlackBerry users and Windows phones users. Females showed slightly more interest in scanning QR codes over males. Some of the colleges included University of Florida, Ohio State, Penn State University, Texas A&M, University of Cal-Berkeley, University of Michigan and North Carolina State.

While college students may be shunning QR codes for now, this hasn’t stopped creative implementations of the technology. A Seattle-based startup named Dynotag has been using QR codes to help find lost pets as well as missing luggage. Companies that sell prepackaged food or simple ingredients are including QR codes on the packaging that lead to instructional videos regarding preparation of a specific dish as well as written recipes and tips.

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Android 16 is finally expanding beyond Google Pixel phones
Android 16 logo on Google Pixel 6a held in hand.

The next major build of Android has reached a handful of new milestones, ahead of its public release. Google has just started the rollout of Android 16’s fourth beta update, reaching the second platform stability. 

Developers who have optimized their apps to target Android 16 can now ship their updates via the Google Play Store. The latest beta update is also the near-final version, as all the app behaviours and background functionalities have been finalized. 

Read more
TORRAS Ostand Air Case deal: save 15% for Earth Day
The iPhones with Ostands, one red, one green, and one purple.

Earth Day is almost here, and TORRAS is making it even easier to celebrate sustainably without sacrificing style. From April 18 to April 25, you can score 15% off the TORRAS Ostand Air Case (available for iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max) when you use code ostand321 at checkout. It's the perfect time to refresh your phone case with something that blends innovation, protection, and nature-inspired design.

Why the TORRAS Ostand Air Stands Out
Light as air but strong as a rock, the Ostand Air is designed for people who want serious protection without the usual bulk. The case features AirMax Cushioning with a dual airbag system, offering 360-degree drop protection. Four-corner core airbags and independent side airbags work together to absorb shocks from drops, bumps, and rough terrain. Whether you're hiking a rocky trail or just navigating a packed commute, those airbags deliver real peace of mind.

Read more
The iPhone 18 may increase in price… but not for the reason you think
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Among all the tariff updates that we receive every week, there's one more factor that might make Apple's iPhones pricier: The switch to TSMC's 2nm process node. According to a new leak, Apple, MediaTek, and Qualcomm are well on their way to switching to the 2nm process, and that might increase the cost of some of the best smartphones.

The grim news comes from frequent leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo. According to the tipster, Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek are expected to switch to TSMC's 2nm process in 2026. This is good news performance-wise, but not so much as far as costs are concerned. TSMC's 2nm process will be more efficient, offering better performance across the board, but it'll also cost more than 3nm and 5nm. Because of that, the leaker predicts: "There may be another round of price increases for new phones."

Read more