Rogers Launches The 5.2 Project to Spotlight Healthy Teen Screen Time Habits

Rogers Communications has launched The 5.2 Project, a new documentary-style initiative designed to spark conversations about the growing amount of time teens spend on their phones each day. Released on May 2, 2026, the project takes its name from a striking statistic: Canadian tweens and teens spend an average of 5.2 hours on their phones daily.

The initiative is part of Rogers Screen Break, a national five-year, $50 million commitment aimed at helping young people develop healthier relationships with technology and digital devices.

A Closer Look at Teen Screen Time

According to a study commissioned by Rogers, nine in 10 Canadian youth exceed the two-hour daily recreational screen time recommendation from the Canadian Pediatric Society. While most parents surveyed believe teens spend too much time on their devices, only one in three youth feel their screen habits are a problem.

The findings reflect growing concerns around the impact excessive screen time can have on young people’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Experts continue to link prolonged device use with anxiety, depression, reduced physical activity, lower academic performance, and developmental challenges.

With smartphones becoming deeply integrated into everyday routines, many families are finding it difficult to set healthy boundaries around screen use. Rogers hopes The 5.2 Project can serve as a conversation starter for parents and teens alike.

Inside The 5.2 Project

The documentary followed teens from three Canadian families, capturing their daily lives and digital habits in real time. Cameras were installed throughout each family’s home while filmmaker Lucas Dabrowski also documented the teens using a handheld camera throughout the day.

The result was 5.2 hours of raw footage showing just how frequently phones were present during ordinary moments — from meals and conversations to downtime and routines. Parents were then asked to watch the footage and share their reactions before and after viewing it.

The participating teens recorded notably high levels of screen time:

• A 17-year-old spent 6 hours and 21 minutes on her device
• A 15-year-old logged 8 hours and 22 minutes
• A 16-year-old spent an astonishing 13 hours and 15 minutes on her phone

For many parents, seeing the reality of their child’s daily screen habits unfold in real time proved to be eye-opening.

“We know the average Canadian teen is spending too much time on their phone, but seeing the reality of those habits throughout a typical day is truly eye-opening,” said Sarah Zupnik. “Our goal is to help Canadian youth develop healthier relationships with their devices and The 5.2 Project is about helping families tackle this issue.”

Director Lucas Dabrowski said the experience also prompted him to reflect on his own relationship with technology.

“Watching these teens move through their day with a phone constantly in hand, or within arm’s reach, brought this issue into focus for me,” he explained. “My hope is this film gives families a starting point for healthy conversations about how screens shape their everyday experiences.”

Rogers Screen Break Initiative

The documentary forms part of Rogers Screen Break, which launched earlier this year as a nationwide initiative focused on digital wellness among youth.

The program is built around four key pillars:

• Parental tools
• Youth programming
• Partnerships and research
• Education and advocacy

Several high-profile Canadian athletes have also joined the campaign to encourage balanced screen use among young people. Advocates include George Springer, John Tavares, Connor McDavid, Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, and Trey Yesavage.

Their involvement highlights the growing recognition that healthy screen habits are not only important for mental wellness, but also for maintaining physical activity, social interaction, and overall balance.

Encouraging Healthy Digital Conversations

As technology continues to shape how young people learn, socialize, and entertain themselves, conversations around screen balance are becoming increasingly important in homes across Canada.

Rather than encouraging families to completely eliminate screens, The 5.2 Project aims to promote awareness and intentional use of technology. By offering a realistic look at how deeply phones are woven into teens’ daily lives, Rogers hopes parents and youth can begin having more open, honest, and constructive conversations about digital habits.

The documentary, along with additional resources for families, is available through the Rogers Screen Break platform.