Japanese city passes order to limit daily screen time to 2 hours a day outside of work
Why this city introduced two-hour daily screen time cap
- Toyoake, a city in Japan, has approved a non-binding ordinance urging residents to limit daily smartphone and gaming console use to two hours outside of work and school.
- Effective from 1 October, the measure is the first of its kind in Japan and aims to address concerns about excessive screen exposure leading to sleep deficits and reduced family interaction.
- The ordinance advises elementary school children to cease smartphone use by 9pm and junior high students by 10pm, emphasising sufficient rest for under-18s' physical and psychological development.
- It also encourages parents to establish clear rules for device usage at home and will set up a system for guidance and advice on managing screen time.
- The city's initiative follows various studies linking excessive mobile phone use to mental health disorders, with recent research suggesting reduced usage can boost well-being.