Israeli Children First to Get Smartphones Youngest Globally

The average age for acquiring a first smartphone in Israel is the lowest in the world, with children typically receiving one between the ages of 6 and 7. This trend is being addressed by the "Attention Revolution" movement, which is expanding its efforts to numerous schools, communities, and kibbutzim this year, advocating for parents to delay this purchase.

The movement, founded in 2021, argues that individual parental solutions are ineffective against major tech companies. "We are not against technological progress or smartphone use, but we are against the tens of thousands of engineers and programmers of platforms, social networks, and online games who are rewarded directly for the attention they take from our children," stated Assaf Ben-Ner, CEO of the Attention Revolution, to mako. The movement aims to "return our children's childhood, attention, and ability to form real human connections."

In response to the early adoption, the movement is intensifying its work in the upcoming school year across dozens of new locations, including Ramat HaSharon, Givatayim, Ganei Tikva, Sderot, Yokneam, Emek HaHula, Gan Yavne, and Petah Tikva. Their goal is to postpone the age of first smartphone acquisition and foster agreements among parents, schools, and communities for more controlled screen usage. This includes encouraging parents to sign pledges delaying smartphone purchases, opting for simpler devices, and establishing guidelines for technology use.

The movement also engages students with educational programs and assists educators in setting communication boundaries with parents, such as limiting WhatsApp groups and defining response hours. Ben-Ner emphasized that parents, not teachers, are the primary drivers of this initiative. The movement's efforts extend to kibbutzim, where community agreements often push the first smartphone age to sixth grade and prohibit mobile use in public spaces.

This initiative comes amidst a significant settlement by Meta in the U.S., where the company agreed to pay approximately $16.7 billion over ten years to resolve lawsuits alleging harm to children on Facebook and Instagram. The settlement includes restrictions on minors' usage, such as a two-hour daily limit and a ban between midnight and 6 a.m., alongside other measures. However, Ben-Ner dismissed the Meta settlement as a "public relations exercise," noting that the financial penalties are minor for the company and the technical changes are easily circumvented. He believes the settlement's main significance is the implicit acknowledgment that Meta's products are harmful to children, akin to past issues with the tobacco industry.