Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones(2024)

Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones is a documentary series following Emma Willis and Matt Willis as they challenge Year 8 pupils at The Stanway School in Colchester to abandon their smartphones entirely for 21 days. The Willises participate in the experiment themselves, experiencing firsthand the struggles and benefits of digital detox. The series explores how teenagers and adults navigate life without constant connectivity, examining the psychological and social impacts of smartphone dependency. As participants grapple with withdrawal, boredom, and the urge to reconnect, the show reveals surprising insights about attention spans, face-to-face interaction, and mental wellbeing. Swiped offers a compelling look at modern adolescence and technology's grip on daily life, raising questions about whether a digital break can genuinely reset our relationship with our devices.