Screen Free Week UK (5th–11th May 2025): Do you give a f**pp?
Every year in May, people across the UK and worldwide take part in Screen Free Week, a global movement encouraging individuals to unplug from devices and reconnect with life offline. This year, from 5th to 11th May 2025, there’s a fresh youth-led voice bringing the message home: “Who Gives A F**pp?”**, a bold campaign by the Digital Rebels here at FlippGen, challenging screen addiction and promoting digital wellbeing.
What is Screen-Free Week?
Screen Free Week began in 1994 as “TV Turnoff Week” in the US. What started as a push against television dependency evolved into a global movement addressing modern digital overload — from smartphones and social media to endless streaming.
The aim is to inspire people of all ages to take a conscious break from screens and engage with real-life activities that nourish mental health and personal connection. It doesn’t mean taking the whole week off screens (although that would be nice), it means using screens more intentionally and recognising your habits. In 2025, with more of our lives happening online than ever, taking a step back is not only healthy but essential, especially for younger people.
Who Gives A F**pp?
This Screen Free Week, we are flipping the narrative with our campaign “Who Gives A F**pp?” — an unfiltered, honest challenge to our daily relationship with tech.
Created by and for young people, the campaign doesn’t shame screen use, instead, it opens up real conversations about how screen time affects self-esteem, attention, relationships, and mental health.
From educational content, events, and challenges, we are building a movement of mindful media use that speaks directly from young people, to young people.
Why the Name?
The provocative title is designed to catch your attention — because young people are tired of being lectured. “Who Gives A F**pp?” asks:
📱 Who really cares about digital wellbeing?
🧠 Who’s talking honestly about burnout and phone addiction?
👥 Who’s taking back control from the scroll?
We are giving young people the platform to say: “We do!”
What Is Digital Wellbeing?
Digital wellbeing refers to the balance between our online and offline lives. It’s the awareness of how time spent on screens impacts our mental health, social life, focus, and physical habits (like sleep and movement).
For young people especially, where school, socialising, and entertainment all converge on screens, the lines get blurred. Practicing digital wellbeing means:
Setting healthy boundaries
Reducing unconscious scrolling
Choosing intention over impulse
Signs You Might Need a Screen Break
If any of these sound familiar, Screen Free Week is a great time to reset:
You check your phone multiple times per hour
You feel uneasy or low after being on social media
You find it hard to concentrate without checking notifications
You scroll out of boredom but never feel satisfied
You’re spending more time documenting life than living it
Tips to Reduce Screen Time (That Actually Work)
Track your usage – Use screen time apps to become more aware of your habits.
Use grayscale mode – Less visual stimulation = less temptation.
Designate “No-Screen Zones” – Bedrooms, dinner tables, and bathrooms.
Do something with your hands – Drawing, journalling, or puzzles help break scrolling cycles.
Social media-free Sundays – One day a week can make a big impact.
Accountability buddy – Share your goals with a friend or family member or join a group challenge.
Turn off push notifications – Especially for non-essential apps.
Why We Need to Talk About Screen Time (Especially for Young People)
Let’s face it: tech is here to stay — and young people are among the most digitally connected. But that doesn’t mean everything about it is working for us.
High screen time has been linked to:
Anxiety, body complex and low self-esteem
Poor sleep and attention spans
Less face-to-face connection
Constant comparison and FOMO
Our “Who Gives A F**pp?” campaign isn’t about blaming — it’s about empowering young people to take back their time and have real conversations about how tech makes them feel.
Get Involved in Screen Free Week 2025
Want to take action this Screen-Free Week?
✅ Share our social posts, tag your friends (and us @flippgen)
✅ Use the hashtag #whogivesaflipp on socials (yes, just once 😉)
✅ Share your story and encourage others to unplug
✅ Join our FlippGen Community
This 5th–11th May 2025, let's take the time to be present. To connect with ourselves and those around us. To ask hard questions about how we use technology — and to imagine a healthier way forward.
Unplug. Reconnect. Reflect. Because we all give a f**pp deep down.