A city in central Japan is considering introducing a new ordinance that would encourage residents to limit their smartphone use to two hours a day outside of work or school.
The draft proposal, put forward by Toyoake City, outlines voluntary guidelines with no penalties for exceeding the limit. Mayor Masafumi Koki explained on Friday, August 22, that the measure is intended “to prevent excessive use of devices that can lead to physical and mental health issues, including sleep disorders.”
According to the draft, elementary school students would be advised to stop using smartphones after 9:00 p.m., while junior high school students and older should avoid them after 10:00 p.m.
The initiative has drawn criticism online, with many labeling it unrealistic. “I understand their intention, but a two-hour limit is impossible,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another commented, “In two hours, I can’t even finish a book or watch a movie on my phone.” Others argued that such restrictions should be left for families to decide.
In response to the backlash, Mayor Koki clarified that the rules are not mandatory, stressing that the guidelines acknowledge smartphones as “useful and indispensable in daily life.”
The city council will deliberate on the ordinance next week, and if approved, it could take effect as early as October.
A similar measure was introduced in 2020 in Japan’s Kagawa region, which became the first to issue guidelines limiting children’s gaming to one hour on weekdays and 90 minutes during school holidays. That ordinance also recommended curfews for smartphone use—9:00 p.m. for ages 12 to 15, and 10:00 p.m. for those aged 15 to 18.
According to a March survey by the Children and Families Agency, Japanese youths currently spend an average of just over five hours per day online during weekdays.
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