I have read many of the posts. Do I think smartphones are dangerous? Yes. I have seen Rabbi Bender hold up his smartphone and say that it is more dangerous for your child to have this in his than a gun. Which is part of the problem. If he feels that one shouldn’t have a smartphone why does he have one?
15 – 20 years ago as the internet was gaining a foothold on society the torah world tried to ban it. Don’t use it. What happened? The more they yelled ban the more people ran after it. When they realized they had to embrace it, it was too late. The same thing will happen with the smartphone. The more they try to ban it, the more it will be used.
What id the answer? I really don’t know. If Roshei Yeshiva and Menahallim continue to use these phones it will be impossible to tell “hamon am” not to use them.