Activist Investors Call on Apple to Address Youth Phone Addiction
Apple under fire after two Apple investors urged the company to step up and play a bigger role in managing smartphone overuse and addiction. David Benoit, Activism Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, was with us to discuss why Jana Partners has decided to push Apple to develop tools and research the effects of smartphone overuse by young people.
Benoit says the investors aren’t saying its necessarily Apple’s responsibility to monitor phone usage. Instead, he thinks they believe that Apple could play an important role in acknowledging that they aren’t sure what the impact of all this phone usage will be, but could score points by giving parents the option to monitor usage.
Activist investors typically focus on things like buybacks and acquisitions. Benoit says this move by Jana Partners to take a stance on corporate responsibility is very different. He thinks following Jana's advice could help protect Apple from potential backlash on teen iPhone usage. In addition, Benoit says goodwill could help drive future sales if consumers feel Apple made a phone that is safe for kids.
Car debt is piling up for consumers, according to a Bloomberg News report. The outlet found that the amount of negative equity, or the amount that debt surpasses a vehicle's value, is building up.
Elon Musk took the stage for Tesla's 2023 Investor Day in Austin, Texas and unveiled what he called the company's Master Plan 3, which emphasizes "sustainable energy for all of Earth."
The cannabis industry is continuing to explode around the world and, at its current pace, is projected to balloon to a market value of nearly $60 billion by 2027, according to cannabis data company BDSA.
U.S. markets ended mostly lower on the first day of March, on data indicating inflation is likely to stay high and Federal Reserve policymakers hinted support for more aggressive rate hikes. Cheddar News speaks with Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at CFRA who breaks down the market's action.
