Nobody sets the rules for these things.

We in the over-30 range tend to turn to e-mail as a first choice. Teens do use e-mail, but they use it strategically. There are certain things they think e-mail is useful for and certain things that they don't.

It's an easier way than jewelry to say that I can afford to spend this much money on something that's just for play.

It provides for a chance to enter into a new level of conversation. It gives you an opportunity to form and maintain communities.