Japanese town wants to limit smartphone use to two hours a day
The city considering a two-hour smartphone limit
- Toyoake, a city in central Japan, has proposed an ordinance to limit smartphone use to two hours daily, believed to be the first of its kind in the country.
- The draft measure encourages families to discuss device usage and set evening cut-offs, suggesting 9pm for primary school children and 10pm for older students and adults.
- Mayor Masafumi Koki stated the aim is to highlight the impact of excessive screen time on health, education, and family life, rather than to impose restrictions or penalties.
- The city cited government health ministry data linking long phone hours to sleep loss, weakened social ties, and truancy among children as reasons for the proposal.
- The proposal has sparked local debate, with significant opposition questioning the need for official intervention, though supporters welcome the move to address smartphone addiction.