California bill asks schools to reduce student phone use
Governor Newsom has signed legislation this week requiring all California school districts, charter schools and county offices of education to create new policies to reduce student cell phone usage by July 2026. This Phone-Free Schools Act was developed in response to research showing mental health implications linked to higher smartphone use. It is also proposed to help reduce distractions and help drive focus toward academics. The government will not be creating the specific rules—that will fall on the individual schools. However, all must allow phone use in case of emergency.
The Circana Take:
- Our August 2024 Connected Intelligence Mobility survey reveals that the most common time for a parent to provide their child with a phone is at 10 to 12 years old, but this varies by the parents’ age as well. It is not surprising that younger parents, ages 18-34, are more likely than their 35+ counterparts to have given their child a phone at age 9 or younger. Factors such as communication needs for safety, normalization of connectivity, and pressure from peers, have come into play in recent years and make it more difficult to wait longer before a phone enters the picture. As the role of technology in society changes, it is essential to adapt.
- Regulations like the Phone-Free Schools Act apply to day-to-day classroom behavior, but smartphone sales are unlikely to be impacted. Since phone use is allowed in emergency situations, parents can maintain the comfort that the device allows them to communicate if something is wrong. Additionally, the rules will quell any fears that providing a child with a phone will distract them in class, and no changes apply outside of school hours. Device makers do not need to fear rules like these. Communication remains indispensable, and encouraging students to focus in school will not change this.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is ready for pre-orders
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Fan Edition was announced on September 26, priced at $649.99, and is currently available for pre-order. It is expected on shelves October 3. At the same time, the Watch FE LTE enters at $249.99. The goal of Fan Editions is to make the latest technology available in a more affordable device.
The release focuses on a few key features, like high quality photos and editing via Samsung’s AI-powered ProVisual Engine, powerful gaming with Exynos 2400 series chipset and AMOLED 120Hz display, Galaxy AI features for productivity and translation, and ecosystem security with Samsung Knox.
The Circana Take:
- Artificial intelligence capabilities have taken the smartphone world by storm. Their inclusion in everyday devices enables consumers to communicate and create in new ways. Our August 2024 Connected Intelligence Mobility survey asks participants what features are important to them when selecting a new smartphone. The proportion of responses stating that AI is an important feature unsurprisingly varies by the price paid for their current smartphone. At the Galaxy S24 FE’s price point, the barrier to AI adoption has lowered slightly.
- The announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Watch FE LTE shows how to make categories inclusive of price-sensitive consumers. Samsung’s efforts to position devices in a broad price range will help the manufacturer protect its base and compete more aggressively in lower income households. Nearly 30% of the smart watches owned by consumers whose household income is under $45k are a brand other than Apple, Google or Samsung. Smartphone brands’ watches are more common at higher income segments, who also have a higher rate of overall smart watch ownership. Moves toward releasing a wider range of prices will only benefit brands, ecosystems, and consumers.