• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Monday, August 23, 2010 11:11 PM

A new Social & Demographic Trends survey by the Pew Research Center shows that land­line phones and TVs aren't the necessities they once were for younger Americans. Just 42% of Americans say that TV sets are essential; just 3 in 10 believe this in the 18-29 age range. For landline phones, 62% of Americans -- down from 68% last year -- believe landline phones are something the could not do without.

The study credits changes in technology, rather than the poor economy, for these shifts. In the case of TV sets, for example, more people are viewing entertainment on their computers and smart phones than ever before. As far as landline phones, a Pew Research Center analysis of government data shows that just 74% of U.S. households now have a landline phone, down from a peak of 97% in 2001. During roughly the same time period, use of cell phones has soared: 82% of adults now use them.

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