@Avram in MD
The physical needs of a teen are different than an adult. A teen doesn�t need to bank or shop. They don�t drive etc. For a teen it�s mostly entertainment. And so to say that a teen would say different about it being g necessity is kind of just denying the basic �metzias� of what it�s used for. It�s not a comparison between a teen and an adult.
I should say though that non smart phones but internet devices, such as a computer or iPad, while not a necessity, it�s still somewhat so the norm even for teens . And if you don�t provide a kosher outlet like 24/6 which tag banned, they will resort to you tube and goyisha videos. But that�s a different discussion than smartphones
Re your kosher phone idea, I need to be able to browse at times and I also need the convenience of going to an App Store and just downloading apps as needed. It�s so part of my life. The idea of a kosher phone with the apps that I need when I don�t know all the apps I need daily plus I he�d to browse and look up things, it�s just very Amish to me. Now you�ll say that for kedusha I should be moser nefesh and live with that inconvenience. Ok but then you are admitting that it�s a necessity and rather saying I should forgo a necessity.
A normal frum family will have at least two smartphones, a work laptop and family computer plus an iPad or some other device plus maybe a car etc . It�s just growing in size. I think a smartphone for parents is a basic necessity like a phone was when we grew up. Again I get that we should go above that but you are asking to forgo a basic standard in society that�s used for daily functions and not just for entertainment