Japanese Town Proposes Limiting Smartphone Use to Two Hours a Day
In a bold move that has ignited a fierce debate on device addiction, a central Japanese town with 69,000 residents is considering restricting smartphone use to just two hours a day.
The groundbreaking proposal, believed to be the first of its kind in Japan, is currently under discussion by lawmakers following its submission by the Toyoake municipal government in Aichi prefecture.
The mayor of Toyoake stated that the proposed limit, applicable outside of work and study, is not intended to be strictly enforced but rather to “encourage” residents to better manage their screen time.
If approved by lawmakers, the rule will go into effect in October with no penalties for violators.
“The two-hour limit is simply a guideline to promote awareness among citizens,” said Mayor Masafumi Koki in a statement.
“This initiative does not infringe on residents’ rights or impose obligations. Instead, I hope it prompts families to reflect on and discuss their smartphone usage habits and timing,” he added.
Activities like watching videos while cooking or working out, online learning, and preparing for e-sports competitions will not count towards the two-hour limit, according to Koki.
While acknowledging the importance of smartphones in daily life, the mayor highlighted instances where students skip school to stay connected and adults sacrifice sleep and family time for endless scrolling on their devices.
During a consultation period, over 120 residents contacted local authorities, with 80% expressing dissatisfaction with the proposal, as reported by Japanese news outlet Mainichi. However, some residents voiced support for the measure.
The proposal recommends that elementary school students should cease device usage by 9:00 PM, while older students and adults should stop by 10:00 PM.
Many individuals took to social media to criticize the proposal, with one user lamenting that two hours is insufficient for reading a book or watching a movie, as per the Japan Times. — BBC
