Rogers is investing $50 million into a five-year national program aimed at helping youth moderate the amount of time they spend on their phones.
Citing a new study it conducted last fall with Angus Reid, the carrier says Canadian youth aged 11-17 spend an average of 5.2 hours per day on their phones. Notably, this is significantly above the two-hour limit recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). The association says excessive screen time can have negative impacts on the physical and mental health of youth, as well as hinder their cognitive development.
To combat this, Rogers says the program, dubbed “Screen Break,” will be broken into four pillars. The first, parental tools, will include options in the MyRogers and Rogers Xfinity apps to set limits on mobile data and overall device use, respectively. Further, Rogers has launched a new Screen Break website to provide resources to parents about how to monitor and moderate their kids’ screen time.
The second pillar, centred around youth programming, will involve a national in-school program in which kids are engaged through conversations with professional athletes, as well as “Unplug and Play” events featuring athletes at active living clinics. Rogers says it will also provide grants to up to four youth organizations to encourage active living, the first being the YMCA.
The third pillar is focused on research and partnerships, with Rogers commissioning an annual study to look at youth screen time. The carrier will also work with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Dais, a public policy and leadership think tank, to develop healthy digital habits in schools.
Finally, Rogers says it will work with athletes on education and advocacy through social media and advertising. To do this, the company has partnered with the Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer, Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs’ John Tavares, Montreal Victoire’s Marie-Philip Poulin and Vancouver Goldeneyes’ Sarah Nurse.
Source: Rogers
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