When people hear about free government smartphones in South Carolina, they may wonder why the government would want to provide smartphones to people who are of a lower income level. Oftentimes, smartphones are connected to luxury and something that the middle class and upper class can afford. But that is not the reality. The reality is that many families use their smartphones as a hotspot that allows them to have Internet access at home.
Proof of the value of free government smartphones in South Carolina is the fact that between 2013 and 2021, the number of people who relied solely on their smartphone for Internet access as opposed to in-home Internet jumped from 12 percent to 27 percent with families that are making less than $30,000 a year. However, families with income over $100,000 only saw a slight jump from five to six percent over this eight-year timeframe.
Thanks to services like pay-as-you-go plans and other affordable plans, lower income families can get access to Internet service at a price they can afford. Wealthier Americans diversify their Internet use between work Internet, broadband Internet at home, and Internet on their different devices. However, a smartphone has become the most affordable way for low-income Americans to interact with their families, access their bank accounts, search for work, and just enjoy entertainment.
