Furthermore, teens are also using more Internet data on their phones, up from 14MB per month last year to 62MB per month now.
Growth in texting has also resulted in a drop in voice calls, with teens averaging 646 minutes per month in the Q2 2010, compared to 737 in the same quarter last year.
In the survey, teens said texting was easier, faster and more fun than calling. 62 percent also sent messages with content (MMS) including audio, video and pictures.
When asked for their top reasons for owning cell phones, the most teens answered "texting." A full 43 percent gave that response. 35 percent said "safety" and 34 percent also said "keeping in touch with friends."
Girls averaged 4050 messages per month with guys lagging behind at 2539.
Nielsen surveyed 3000 teens for the figures as well as analyzing mobile phone bills for 60,000 wireless subscribers.