Violence among teenagers in Israel is no longer an exceptional occurrence. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a series of severe and, at times, truly chilling incidents: a teen stabbed inside an educational institution, teens pulling knives during a robbery, deliberate arson, particularly violent group assaults, and sexual assaults disguised as “challenges” on social media. These are not isolated cases but part of a phenomenon that reflects a psychological and social reality stretched to its limits.
A whole generation today is living in a prolonged reality of anxiety and instability. The war and the social polarization that preceded it have created an emotionally tense environment that has accompanied teens for a long time.
Our data paint a worrying picture.
As of September 2025, compared to the period before the war:
- Forty percent of teens exhibit violent or aggressive behavior, a 13% increase.
- Over 60% are experiencing mental distress, including depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
- Fifteen percent report economic anxiety, a 2% increase.
All of this reflects young people living without a stable safety net.
Teens are the first to be impacted by societal breakdown
When adult society breaks down, young people feel it first. Teen violence does not develop in a vacuum; it mirrors what is happening around it. Violent public discourse, deteriorating personal safety, increased access to harmful means, and the erosion of family frameworks all seep directly into their world. Many parents today lack the emotional or financial resources to support their children as they would like, and teens feel the absence of this anchor.
Social media adds fuel to the fire by acting as a massive amplifier of violence. Every emotion receives extreme echoing; every conflict is intensified. Dangerous challenges, videos of violence, shaming, and emotional blackmail fill the digital space. Yet, at the same time, it is also where many teens express distress; sometimes, they only call for help.
The situation is especially severe among youth on the margins. Young people living in poverty, disconnection, or without family support are much more exposed to violent outbursts, substance use, and dangerous situations.
According to data from the margins as of September 2025, compared to the pre-war period:
- Over 60% express mental distress (depression, anxiety, loneliness).
- Thirty-five percent report signs or experiences of domestic or intimate-partner violence, a 4% increase.
- There has been a 12% increase in expressions of economic anxiety.
Dangerous loss of trust
Many teens report long waits for treatment and a sense that the system disappeared precisely when they needed it most. This loss of trust is not just sad; it is dangerous.
It is crucial to understand that teen violence is not the problem; it is the symptom. Instead of asking what is wrong with the teens, it is time to ask what is wrong with us. They are not fundamentally different from previous generations, but they are growing up in a far more exposed, chaotic, and complex era. When adults disappear from the arena and boundaries blur, violence fills the space where stability should have been.
To stop this downward spiral, action is needed now. The data clearly show that the involvement of systemic interventions is a central condition for the progress of young people. Meaningful adult presence in the spaces where teens are – schools, neighborhoods, evenings and nights, and online – is essential.
Although much progress has been made and systems now work together better than before, a national plan combining clear boundaries with therapeutic support is needed. Key ministries, such as the Health Ministry, Welfare Ministry, Education Ministry, and National Security Ministry, must join forces. We need to strengthen support systems, parent guidance programs, and cooperation between the state, local authorities, and civil society organizations. Without focused support for youth at the margins, every effort will remain partial.
ELEM's work
This is where ELEM’s work, in partnership with the Welfare Ministry, comes in. In the field, the organization’s professionals encounter this reality every day, at night, on the streets, in treatment centers, and in digital spaces.
They identify distress before it erupts, offer support during moments of loneliness, and provide stable frameworks for young people who have lost trust in their environment. This work proves time and again that when teens have a stable and significant adult figure, they can break the cycle of violence and change their path.
We must remember this is a generation full of power and hope. These teens are not a lost generation; they are a generation seeking belonging, listening, and meaning. The data show the magnitude of the challenge, and the work on the ground shows the path to change. If we become the adults they need – present, attentive, and stable – we can change their future.
Teen violence is a wake-up call. It invites us to rebuild the social fabric that has unraveled. The choice of what the coming years will look like for this generation rests in our hands.
The writer is CEO of ELEM.