This seems to be an issue in more developed countries or richer parts of developed nations. I don't see this as much in my area. Smartphones do exist and there are a few who become attached to them but the majority still get out and talk with each other. If anything, phones are a great way of knowing when it's time to leave. You can tell people are ready to go when the majority start looking at their phones. It used to be that people just wouldn't leave until late at night because nobody wanted to be the first to go and I was never a fan of that.

Another thing is that the previous generations were just as attached to TV's. The same kids you see glued to their smartphones and throwing fits over them getting taken away probably had parents who were the same way with the TV and their videogames. Doesn't make it okay but it always bothers me when people assume it's exclusively a Gen Z/Alpha problem.