In this article the author analyses communication practices of children in the 12-22 age-group living with their parents. He then explores the meaning of these practices by replacing them in their context, especially in that of children's gradual conquest of autonomy from their parents, and the process of their individualization. It is in these terms that he explains the increasing take up of the mobile phone (freer access, individual equipment, choice of less restrictive prepaid accounts, etc.) and of email (individualization of the address, files and directories, even of the computer). Electronic communication via computer plays an essential part, although it tends to be replaced by the mobile phone when activities outside the home become more frequent.