Teen survey: Cell phones cooler than jewelry, shoes

That's according to a recent study, which also found that more than a quarter of all teens feel that it's "absolutely essential" to have the latest, greatest cell phone. Yikes.

The online survey of more than 2,000 teens (conducted by research firm Harris Interactive, via the L.A. Times) found that 45 percent of teens believe that a cell phone is "the key to my social life," while 37 percent say their phones are primarily "an indicator of my personal style"—compared to the mere 29 percent who answered "it's how I stay connected."

And here’s a stat I found pretty amazing: While teens still think clothing is the most important thing in terms of determining your "social status," cell phones now rank number two, with jewelry (and/or watches) and shoes bringing up the rear.

Also: About nine out of 10 teens say they text their pals on a regular basis, according to the survey (well, duh!). But check this out: a full 42 percent boasted they could text … blindfolded. Try that on for size.

Here's the kicker, at least for parents: About 45 percent of teens say that having the hottest new cell phone is anywhere from "important" to "absolutely essential"—and, interestingly enough, the 13- to 15-year-old set makes up the lion's share of the "absolutely essential" bucket.

Of course, keeping your kids in step with the latest in phone fashion can be an expensive habit, especially given that carriers can get stingy with handset discounts unless you're signing a new contract. And while pre-paid phones can be a lot cheaper, it looks like your kids won't be too impressed by a bargain-basement handset. Lucky you.

So, parents, what do you think: Willing to pony up for a hot new phone so Junior can keep up with his classmates? Or will you (heartlessly!) let your defenseless middle schooler suffer at the hands of iPhone-toting tormentors?

And for the teens: Is having the latest and greatest cell phone really that important, or are you fine with your old Moto V60 (or nothing at all)?

Related:
Cellphones the key to teen cool, study says [L.A. Times tech blog]