Survey: Teens' Cell Phones Indispensible

(CNET)  Cell phones have become almost as important to American teens as the clothes they wear, according to a nationwide survey of teenagers released last week.

The wireless trade association CTIA and Harris Interactive surveyed some 2,000 teens across the country and learned that teens feel that cell phones have become a vital part of their identities. They also believe that they can gauge a peer's popularity or status by the phone he or she uses.

Findings of the survey were presented on Friday at the CTIA Fall 2008 trade show in San Francisco. Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate, a mobile games publisher, moderated a panel with seven teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 18 years old.

Adolescents represent an important demographic for cell phone makers and mobile operators as cell phones have become an integral part of teens' lives. About four out of every five teens carry a cell phone. This is up from 40 percent of teens owning a cell phone in 2004. And almost half of the teens surveyed today say that having a cell phone is "key" to their social lives.

"Leaving home without my phone almost feels like leaving the house naked," said Brenna, 17, who participated in the panel.

Another recent survey conducted by Nielsen revealed that kids are getting cell phones even before they hit their teens. Nearly half of kids age 8 to 12 years old own cell phones in the U.S, according to the Nielsen report. And on average kids get their first cell phone between the ages of 10 and 11 years old.

While many teens view having a cell phone as important for practical things like getting a ride or for safety reasons, many believe it also says a lot about them as people. According to the survey, about 28 percent of all teens and 34 percent of kids 13 to 15 years old said that having the latest cool cell phone is absolutely essential. A mother of a 14-year old boy on the teen panel said the social pressure to have a "cool" phone is intense.

"Marcus has told me that he is embarrassed for his friends to see his phone," Deundra, Marcus's mother, said on the sidelines after the panel discussion had ended. "I've literally had to pull the car over to have a conversation about why he would feel this way. We've had many talks about the true importance and value of things."

Most of the teens on the panel agreed that Apple's
href="http://www.cnet.com/apple-iphone.html" class="link" target="new">iPhone is the coolest phone on the market. But none of them owned one, largely because the devices are too expensive and so is the monthly service fee from AT&T.


Consistent with the findings of the survey, the teens on the panel said they text message as much as or more than they talk on the phone. And 42 percent of those surveyed say they could text blindfolded.

About a third of teens surveyed say they regularly play games on their phones and about 20 percent of them use their phones for social networking. The teens on the panel said they would be more willing to play games or surf the mobile Web, if those were no-cost activities.

About 59 percent of teens surveyed said they would be willing to provide personal information to wireless operators to receive targeted text messages. And roughly 40 percent of teens said they don't mind watching advertising if cell phone service is free.
The teens on the CTIA panel agreed with the results.

"We definitely like free," Brenna said.

But there are some services that some teens aren't too keen on. Roughly 36 percent of teens in the survey said they don't like buddy-tracking features that reveal their physical location to others. The teens on the panel also complained about poor battery life. Dean, 14, said he'd like phone manufacturers develop solar-powered phones.

"If they can do it for calculators, they should be able to do it for phones," he said.

According to the survey, teens also say they want phones that are waterproof and shockproof, are made of flexible materials that can bend, and have artificial intelligence that will provide answers to questions.

[pdalookout]

Most households have two working parents. This isn't the 1950s anymore when June Cleaver stays home and keeps house and track of the kids. My partner and I work in cities other than where we live. Our kids are good kids and involved in extracurricular activities. We make sure our kids STAY good kids and keep an eye on the kids they hang around by signing up with PDA Lookout. This way we can see who they're texting about what and where they are thanks to PDA Lookout's live time GPS. Thank you PDA Lookout for making a good parent's job eaiser.

[huan23]

We have found Kajeet for our communication needs. They provide prepaid phone service with parental controls. With the parental controls we can see who our son is calling and texting. Also, we can set the times of day when the phone will be active or not (school, bed time). They also have GPS tracking to find those busy kids. Everything is done online and there's never a contract. They have family plans where you can have 3 line for as little as $60. Shop from www.kajeet.com/bargain to get 15% off or use promo code "BARGAIN" at checkout. Be sure to look them up.

[omnibus66]

I personally do not own, never have, and never will own a cell phone. I view them as an invasion of privacy, and if you want to talk to me you can leave a message on my answering machine and I will return your call at my convenience.

From my experience, listening to others talking on their cell phones (I don''t eavesdrop, it''s often impossible not to hear), at least 90% of what is said is unnecessary drivel.

The conversations that I have heard are primarily a running narrative of what the person is doing: ''I''m in the cold drink aisle at WalMart looking for some diet Pepsi''.

If you really feel that you have to keep everyone informed of every little thing that you do every waking moment, then by all means, have a Blackberry permanently attached to your head, but Frankly my dear, ....

[janisjl]

typo... it mst be "indispens a ble"

[lewiston14]

"why don''''t cell phones have controls to lock out various, unneeded functions at various times of the day if the phone is to be used by uneducated, and likely impudent children?"

Because shutting off functions would stop the $3 text message profit. Use your head. They are in it for the money not your wish or wants

[keithle1]

You don''t say. Really?

Teenage girls would rather s c r e w Bigfoot than go 24 hours without using their cellphone. Make that 12.
No, 6.

Everything that happens in their lives must be analyzed endlessly by 25 of their closest gal pals. Nothing is too small or trivial.

[bonquishta35]

I''m a teen, and I don''t gauge popularity on a person''s cell phone. It is nice to have a good phone, but your popularity doesn''t depend on it. Before I got a phone when I was 13, I really wanted one. But now I realize that it''s not a big deal.

[hypnotoad72]

Using cell phones while driving, boating, flying, in theaters, in checkout lines, in church and in school should be illegal. It''''s dangerous, and obnoxious, and rude.

Posted by cm5605

---

Don''t forget at movie theaters... and ESPECIALLY if they have profanity-laced ringtones, or that condom one too.

Such devices are useful, but we have enough problems in the classroom without them spending all day texting rather than studying. Indeed, why don''t cell phones have controls to lock out various, unneeded functions at various times of the day if the phone is to be used by uneducated, and likely impudent children?

[cm5605]

Using cell phones while driving, boating, flying, in theaters, in checkout lines, in church and in school should be illegal. It''s dangerous, and obnoxious, and rude.

[gunfighter51]

When the teens grow up, reality will set in. Hopefully by that time they will be able to read, write and spell, not to mention count change.

How many people are going to die before we ban the use of cell phones while driving and operating trains.

[scottyusa]

This is funny. How many of you commenting here today carry a cell phone? It''s the THING for adults as well as teens today. It is a fad that is here to stay. Without a cell phone teens are not only feeling disconnected, they are disconnected. My kids are all grown up and when they were teens cell phones were unheard of. I carry one every time I am out on my old Harley. I got it because it is a toll call from work to home. I don''t use it much but it is nice when I need it. Used it twice to call AAA lol (not my Harley)