Press: 'But I Neeeeeed It!' She Suggested - NYT

'But I Neeeeeed It!' She Suggested - New York Times: "Although parents have long struggled with their teenagers' desire to own the newest, coolest stuff, these days the battle has reached a new dimension. While teenagers once coveted $100 sneakers and jeans (arguably necessities because, after all, they are clothes), the must-have items now - iPods, cellphones with cameras, and portable DVD players - are high-tech, constantly in need of upgrade and can cost up to $500 each. These items, which teenagers say they must have to maintain their place in the social pecking order, are increasingly out of reach for most high school students, who are less likely these days to hold part-time jobs. [...]

The upshot is that more parents are finding themselves [...] footing the bill so their children can maintain social face. "