The essential cellphone

British young people see their cellphones as "a key part of their identity," the BBC reports, citing a new study by the Trust for Study of Adolescence. "They are private, personal devices which give young people independence of both movement and communication." According to UK communications regulator Ofcom, 82% of UK 12-to-15-year-olds and 49% of 8-to-11-year-olds do. Both these age groups make an average of eight calls and 25 text messages a week. A few highlights from the Trust study: UK parents say young people are safer with phones than without them, despite concerns about text bullying; youth are more concerned about text bullying than their parents (67% said they had either been a victim or knew someone who had been); parents typically buy their kids phones to keep track of them and for emergencies; parents prefer to talk with their kids, while kids preferred texting with parents. "The research also showed having a mobile increased young people's feeling of independence and was frequently used to plan arrangements both with parents and friends."