Rogers Launches ‘Screen Break’ Initiative to Tackle Youth Screen Time Crisis

According to Rogers, the telecom giant recently unveiled its Screen Break initiative, aimed at helping Canadian families address excessive screen time among youths. The program comes on the heels of a detailed study conducted last fall, surveying over 1,200 parents and 500 youths aged 11-17. The findings highlight a critical and growing concern: Canadian youth spend an average of 5 hours and 14 minutes daily on smartphones — nearly 90 minutes more than their parents perceive.

Rogers’ ‘Screen Break’: A Closer Look at the Initiative

The Screen Break program is a proactive step by Rogers to address digital consumption issues that families often struggle to manage. The initiative is informed by research conducted between October 30 and November 11, 2025, using the Angus Reid Forum. The data reveals that nearly 89% of youth surpass the Canadian health guideline of two daily hours of recreational screen time, with significant implications for their overall well-being.

The study also found that 49% of youth screen time is spent on smartphones, increasing to 52% for girls. With 46% of this use occurring in bedrooms, monitoring screen activity becomes a challenge for parents. Meanwhile, social media dominates as the leading activity, posing additional concerns about content exposure and oversight.

Rogers’ findings underscore a deeper issue: the disconnect between parent and youth perceptions of screen use. While parents estimate 3 hours and 44 minutes of daily use, youth report significantly higher numbers. This blind spot raises urgent questions of how families can address screen time issues if they can’t accurately assess the problem.

Shifting Market Context: Telecoms at the Forefront of Digital Well-Being

The Screen Break program aligns with a larger industry trend, as telecom providers increasingly find themselves at the nexus of digital well-being and connectivity. Traditionally, responsibilities for managing screen time have fallen to platforms like TikTok and YouTube or device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung. However, Rogers’ research indicates a changing tide: 62% of parents and 55% of youth now believe that telecom providers should play an active role in managing screen use.

This shift represents both an opportunity and a challenge for telecom companies. With Canada’s mobile penetration rate at 88.1% (Statista, 2023), solutions aimed at digital well-being could become a key differentiator in a competitive market. Companies like Telus and Bell may soon feel pressure to launch similar offerings, creating a race to integrate user-centric features into their services.

More broadly, the program taps into growing societal concerns over the effects of excessive screen time. Studies have consistently shown that high screen usage — particularly over six hours a day — correlates with reduced feelings of well-being, lower community engagement, and decreased physical activity. For telecom providers, stepping up with actionable solutions could help mitigate risks while repairing public perceptions of their role as enablers of digital overuse.

What’s Next? Expert Analysis on Responsibility and Future Trends

For Rogers and its competitors, the future lies in transforming these findings into practical solutions. Parental controls, data-driven monitoring tools, and educational campaigns could take center stage as the telecom industry repositions itself as a partner in fostering digital health. According to digital well-being expert Dr. Emily Carson, “Families need transparency and tools. A telecom provider’s ability to help parents measure and manage usage patterns could become a defining factor for customer loyalty.”

Given that nearly two-thirds of parents are seeking tools to manage screen time, creating evidence-based, customizable solutions could provide substantial market differentiation. Furthermore, industry experts predict such initiatives may intersect with regulatory tech policy in the coming years, as governments push for telecom providers to adopt consumer protections relating to digital consumption.

Conclusion: Setting a New Standard for Youth Screen Time Management

Rogers’ Screen Break initiative is a notable example of how telecom providers are stepping into uncharted territory to address pressing social issues. By leveraging research-backed insights and creating tools to empower parents and youth, the company is placing itself at the vanguard of the digital well-being movement in Canada.

As the debate on screen time continues, what measures do you think telecom companies should implement to tackle this issue? Share your thoughts below!