Numerous smart phones existed with email, text, call, and internet. iPhone just made it infinitely better. They also had the advantage of convincing carriers to start making money off data rather than text/minutes. This was a paradigm shift that allowed for full web browser to exist. It guzzled data, so carriers were fine subsidizing the phones and reap profits of data plans.

To label such activity as a tax on the poor is nothing more than a euphemism. I understand what is being said by the verbiage "tax" in this context. Although no real tax is voluntary.

Labeling this as an issue that disproportionately affects poor is misleading. This is an issue for a few select individuals who make poor decisions. The correlation for poor decisions and lower disposable income is higher than the contrary.

Wealthy by all means have the ability to wager more than they can afford. Often times, they wager significantly higher than average income individuals; however, they stay within their means