Final answer:
The specific percentage of smartphone-dependent Americans who faced financial hardship leading to the cancellation or shutting off of their cell phone service according to the 2015 Pew Research report is not provided in the references given. The available data indicates a difference in smartphone dependence among various ethnic groups but doesn't offer figures on service cancellation due to financial hardship.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the data available from the Pew Research Center, which primarily focuses on how Americans are using technology, particularly smartphones, and how it impacts them, the correct answer to the question posed is not directly available from the references provided. The percentage of smartphone-dependent Americans who faced financial hardship leading them to cancel or shut off their cell phone service in 2015, according to the Pew Research report on U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015, is not specified in the resources. However, what is noted is that smartphone reliance was more significant among Hispanics and African Americans when compared to White Americans. The focus was on smartphone ownership and dependency on these devices for online access.
Technology, particularly smartphone use, plays a significant role in today's society, with many depending on these devices for daily tasks, access to news, and communication, which may present challenges for those in financial hardship. Unfortunately, without the specific report from the Pew Research Center that details the percentage of Americans who had to cancel or shut off their cell phone service, the answer to the question posed is not provided within these references.