WSJ Tech News Briefing WSJ Tech News Briefing

School Phone Bans Are Spreading. But Are They Working?

Sep 1, 2026 · 11m

Summary

This episode examines the shifting public support for school phone bans, with WSJ’s Julie Jargon discussing how lockable pouches curb usage but haven’t yet boosted grades. The show then pivots to Hawaii’s economic struggles, where WSJ’s Owen Tucker Smith reports on efforts to diversify beyond tourism by fostering niche tech sectors like ocean and aerospace industries to retain young talent.

Topics discussed

Intro: AWS AI ad and show welcome Preview: School phone bans and Hawaii tech Rise of school phone bans and public opinion How schools enforce phone bans in practice Study results on phone usage reduction Student reactions and socialization effects Impact on grades and classroom attention AWS AI commercial break Hawaii's brain drain and past tech failures New strategy: Ocean tech and aerospace Challenges of building niche industries State incentives and shared manufacturing Economic stakes and wage competitiveness Outro and credits
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