DS not waiting to go to Dad's

[MCanon]

DS (12) has been increasingly reluctant to visit his dad every other weekend over the last few months. He says his dad doesn't care about him, doesn't do anything with him, and just sits on his phone while DS has to sit on the sofa without his phone. This is not because he wants to socialise with his friends, because he doesn't really go out when with us either. There is a different level of strictness between houses, but I think we are both pretty strict on screen time, manners, cleaning etc. And here he is struggling with the relationship with DS2 (10), so the break used to be welcome.

Now there are now tears every other Friday night and I feel bad making him go. But his dad is quite vindictive, and I am also reluctant to raise this with him, or suggest DS should, because if upset he will take it out on DS with lots of petty things that will just make their relationship worse.

I want them to maintain a good relationship, I feel DS needs a dad, but this is not working right now.

I've heard that not wanting to visit non resident parents is common among teens, and am hoping some here will have stories to share of similar times, and how/if it resolved with time?

Do you think this could be covid combined with the six weeks and increased boredom.
Is it worth suggesting to your son he tells Dad a couple of ideas of what he would like to do next time he goes.
As far as your aware has there been any changes at Dad's recently.

Think you need to talk to dad, Perhaps there is more to it, perhaps it will give Dad the opportunity to adress the issue. Can they go somewhere mutual, such as a cafe/ park? and just do day visits for a little while?

Can he take some non screen activities to keep him occupied while he's with his dad?