Israeli Children Get First Smartphones Youngest Globally, Group Warns

The average age at which Israeli children acquire their first smartphone is the lowest in the world, with many starting as early as ages 6-7, according to the "Attention Revolution" movement. The organization is expanding its efforts to dozens of schools, communities, and kibbutzim this year, advocating for parents to delay this purchase. This trend is occurring against the backdrop of a major settlement by Meta in the US aimed at restricting minors on its platforms, which the movement's CEO, Assaf Ben-Ner, dismisses as an easily circumvented "PR stunt" that fails to address addiction.

Ben-Ner explains that this early adoption, often driven by social pressure and a "domino effect" among parents, means first-graders are arriving at school with smartphones. In response, the Attention Revolution will operate in numerous new schools and communities across Israel during the upcoming school year. The movement's goal is to postpone the age of first smartphone acquisition and foster agreements among parents, schools, and communities for more controlled screen usage.

"We are not against technological progress or smartphone use, but we are against the tens of thousands of engineers and programmers at platforms, social networks, and online games who are rewarded directly by the attention they manage to take from our children," Ben-Ner stated. The movement aims to "return our children's childhood, attention, and ability to form real human connections."

Founded in 2021, the movement concluded that individual parental solutions were ineffective against tech giants. They believe waiting for legislation is a "mistake and a waste of precious time." The organization now operates nationwide, engaging local authorities, cities, regional councils, kibbutzim, and community settlements, with a focus on elementary schools but also extending to middle and high schools. Their work includes assisting schools in implementing smartphone-free periods, providing education on digital literacy, and advising on usage habits.

Key initiatives involve parents signing agreements to delay smartphone purchases, opting for simpler devices, and establishing guidelines for technology use. The movement also educates students and helps educators set boundaries with parents, such as reducing WhatsApp group usage and defining response hours. In kibbutzim, the focus extends beyond schools to after-school hours and social-educational frameworks, with community agreements often delaying smartphone access until sixth grade and prohibiting mobile use in public spaces.

A recent Brandeis University poll indicated a rare consensus in Israel, with over 81% of the public demanding legislation to regulate social networks and half prioritizing child protection. This domestic concern mirrors Meta's recent settlement with 47 US states, Washington D.C., and three territories, resolving investigations into the harm caused by Facebook and Instagram to minors. The $16.7 billion settlement over ten years includes measures like limiting minors' daily usage to two hours, blocking access between midnight and 6 AM by default, removing like counts, disabling aesthetic filters for minors, and implementing stricter age verification.

Ben-Ner characterized the Meta settlement as primarily a "PR exercise," noting that the annual payout is roughly equivalent to Meta's eight-day revenue. He argued that Meta avoided admitting wrongdoing and creating a legal precedent, with the proposed technical changes being easily bypassed. However, he acknowledged the settlement's significance in implicitly admitting Meta's products are harmful to children, akin to the tobacco industry's past. He expressed skepticism about the settlement's impact in Israel, given its limited scope within the US and the availability of equally addictive platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Ben-Ner believes the solution lies in societal and community-level changes in device usage norms, rather than isolated technological fixes, citing the detrimental effects of endless feeds and the need for social validation on children's mental and cognitive well-being.