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.
Zumba Fitness CEO Alberto Perlman joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to talk about the rise in demand for in-person training after the company saw a 55 percent jump in scheduled classes over Q3. Perlman noted that while demand for in-person training is increasing, the pandemic exposed a market for at-home sessions that will likely persist even after it ends. "The world is becoming hybrid, and people are finding ways to fit in two workouts a week at home and then three workouts at the gym. And our instructors are perfectly positioned to adapt to those environments," he said.
Sting is the latest recording artist looking to unload his music catalog — for a staggering $250 million. Universal Music Group is said to be at the top of the list of suitors but the pop star's hits could still end up remaining with Sony.
Greenwood, a digital banking platform aimed at supporting Black and Latino businesses and clients, is launching its very own GreenBook. Named after the historic publication for Black travelers during the era of Jim Crow, the online guide will provide a directory of Black- and Latino-owned businesses across the country. Ryan Glover, the founder and chairman of Greenwood, joined Cheddar to provide additional details about the listings.
Apple is reversing course on its in-house repair policy amid the ongoing pressure from right-to-repair advocates and will roll out a self-service option allowing customers to repair and replace some parts on some iPhones themselves.
Greg Martin, the co-founder of Rainmaker Securities, joined Cheddar to talk about fast-casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen's IPO launch on the New York Stock Exchange. Martin said he is not confident the market will react positively to the launch and expects volatility ahead because "when you look at their metrics, they're good but not great." He also noted that it might take investors a while to figure out exactly what the brand is as it balances between being a traditional restaurant and a tech-enabled food platform.
The major indexes closed lower Wednesday even as major retailers reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Melissa Brown, Managing Director of Applied Research at Contigo, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss today's market close.
President Biden's infrastructure plan will be pumping billions of dollars into the EV sector. David Shepardson, Correspondent at Thomson Reuters, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down all of the details.
Luke Oliver, Managing Director and Head of Strategy at KraneShares, joined Wake Up With Cheddar to talk about why it's the right time to invest in clean energy, as the U.S. continues its transition away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
