Shraga – I hear. I do think the American rabbonim did not because they don’t want to make a psak that “h’olam lo yachol la’amod bahem”
They definitely have said that they encourage it.
The gedolim at the internet kennes DID assur internet that is not filtered – I do not know what options smartphones have but I believe they are very poor, and even if they have something good most frum yidden I know don’t have a filter on it – which makes for a dangerous weapon for anyone’s spiritual future in their back pocket. Everyone has ups and downs in life, people shouldn’t make it that easy for themselves.
I definitely don’t understand people who get anything but a kosher phone for kids – they are not mature enough (even when they think they are) and don’t have “pas b’salo” to even hope to not destroy their spiritual future…