Short answer: “eyes glued to iPhone”, however distractions of any kind existed before the smartphone from people blasting loud music with headphones via a walkman, putting the radio at max volume, having either a book or newspaper obstructing one’s view. You get the point, I once heard an incident involving a woman almost getting ran over by a street car in Turkey all because she’s glued to the phone screen whilst walking.
Maybe I’m jus becoming an old grumpy man, but teens these days seem completely oblivious to their surroundings. More so than I ever remember. For sure, not every teenager, but the ones I see standing cluelessly in front of busy exits, don’t understand how to stand in line, how to pass gates in airports, how to be less obnoxious… are so often teenagers these days. Probably better that way as we completely fucked their future.