Landmark two-part documentary series, tackles timely issue of the impact of smartphones on children’s behaviour

If they do, they will hardly be alone – it’s been reported that 50 per cent of all nine-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone. However, a lot of parents have mixed feelings about giving their kids devices.

While phones undoubtedly have their benefits (especially for parents who shudder to think about what they used to get up to as completely uncontactable kids, or remember trying to find a phone box in an emergency), some people fear their youngsters will use their phones to access inappropriate material, or fall victim to cyberbullying. Others worry that even if they aren’t looking at anything dodgy, simply being on the phone at all can be habit forming.

There is some evidence to support that fear – it’s claimed that 43 per cent of teens have admitted to being on their phones during lessons, and a recent Education Select Committee report revealed that one in four children now use their phones in a manner resembling behavioural addiction.

So, if you’re considering giving your child a device, perhaps you should watch the two-part documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones first.

It sees presenters Emma and Matt Willis join forces with The Stanway School in Colchester to challenge a group of Year 8 pupils – and themselves – to give up their smartphones completely for 21 days.

It’s part of a social experiment, which is being conducted in conjunction with The University of York. Over the three-week period, the pupils will undergo a series of tests to monitor their behavioural changes. From cognitive tasks testing attention, reaction times and memory to questionnaires covering sleep, anxiety, depression, mood, stress, loneliness, enjoyment and social connectedness, it’s hoped that the results will give a clear picture of the affect phone use is having on young people.

Emma and Matt say: “Our lives these days revolve around our smartphones, and the thought of three weeks without them is quite honestly daunting, yet fascinating. The statistics on children’s smartphone use are beyond worrying so the time feels absolutely right for the issue to be addressed.

“We’re intrigued by the results of the experiment and hope it can spark change and have a lasting and positive impact on everyone.”

Joining them on the show, which is being broadcast on consecutive evenings, is medical doctor, author, television presenter and podcaster Dr Rangan Chatterjee, who also believes this is a hugely pressing issue.

Dr. Rangan said: “Everyone – parents, teachers, schools etc – want what is best for our children, but, as a society, I really feel we have allowed technology to infiltrate our children’s lives without proper thought. I think this is likely to have major negative consequences for children and society at large. For me, this is one of the most urgent societal issues of our time.

“And this experiment is critically important to kick-start a national conversation about what is actually appropriate and helpful for our children. We need to know which aspects of technology use can help our children and which aspects are in fact harming them.”