Are smartphones the new cigarettes?

FILE - In this file photo, store manager Stephanie Hunt poses for photos with a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, an Altria brand, at a Smoker Friendly shop in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights re

By Analysis by The Big Story Podcast

Posted March 17, 2024 5:45 am.

Last Updated March 17, 2024 11:42 am.

Not too long ago, cigarettes were everywhere. Lighting up in a restaurant, on a flight, or even in a doctor’s office was just part of the smoky fabric of Canadian life. Until it wasn’t.

Now smartphones are the constant thing we carry. We can’t seem to put them down. Will we ever? 

Guest host Melissa Duggan speaks with Richard Warnica, a business reporter and opinions writer for the Toronto Star. He argues for the connection between smartphones and cigarettes, while sharing the lessons learned from butting out.

You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify. You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

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