• by Masha Geller , September 2, 2003

In a recent survey of more than 2,500 U.S. teens, Terra Lycos found that nearly two thirds of teens ages 16 to 19 consider cell phones and laptops the most important electronic essentials as they head back to school this year.

According to Terra Lycos, the irony is that the majority of teens surveyed (78%) admitted their schools do not allow cell phone use in the classroom. The majority (73%) surveyed also indicated they do not own their own laptop computer.

The survey points out that CD Players were ranked by 26% of respondents as the most important electronic gadgets for back to school, compared to only 5% who ranked MP3 players, and 5% who chose portable game systems as most important.

Of the teens surveyed, the majority (83%) admitted they communicate with friends more than any other group during the school day, and face-to-face communication was the most popular form of interaction (79%). Once the school day ends, nearly half of the teens surveyed (45%) admitted they communicate via Instant Messenger outside of school, compared to only 15% who communicate face-to-face after school hours.

The Angelfire polling results encapsulate the opinions of teenagers, ranging in ages from 13-19, on various pop culture topics, current events and major concerns.