Rogers Launches Five-Year $50 Million National Program to Help Youth Balance Screen Time

Core Insights - Canadian teens spend an average of 5.2 hours on their phones daily, significantly exceeding the Canadian Paediatric Society's recommended limit of two hours for recreational screen time [2][5] - Rogers has launched a national program called Screen Break to help families manage excessive screen use among youth, investing $50 million over five years [1][3] Excessive Screen Time Concerns - A study by Rogers indicates that while 90% of parents believe their children spend too much time on screens, only one-third of teens recognize it as a problem [2] - Excessive screen time is linked to various health issues, including increased anxiety, depression, social isolation, obesity, and hindered academic performance [5] Program Initiatives - The Screen Break program includes four pillars: Parental Tools, Youth Programming, Research & Partnerships, and Education & Advocacy [3][4] - Tools for parents include the MyRogers app for managing mobile data and the Rogers Xfinity app for setting time limits and monitoring app usage [6] Community Engagement - The program will feature events like "Unplug and Play," where professional athletes will host active living clinics to encourage physical activity among youth [6][10] - Rogers is collaborating with the YMCA and other youth organizations to promote active living and screen balance [4][6] Research and Education - An annual study will be commissioned to analyze screen time usage among youth, in partnership with the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University [7] - The program aims to educate families on healthy digital habits and the importance of balancing screen time with physical activity [8]