Toyoake Drafts Rule to Curb Excessive Screen Time

Japanese city considers limiting smartphone use to two hours a day, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

A Japanese city is considering restricting residents’ smartphone use to two hours per day due to concerns about the effects of excessive exposure to technology.

The draft ordinance, prepared by the city of Toyoake in Aichi Prefecture, is likely to be the first municipal regulation in Japan aimed at limiting the use of smartphones and other electronic devices.

If approved by the local assembly, the ordinance would take effect on October 1.

“We want the ordinance to give people an opportunity to reflect on how they use their smartphones,” a city official said. No penalties are proposed for those who break the rule.

The draft also recommends that elementary school students stop using smartphones by 9 p.m., while junior high and high school students should put away their devices by 10 p.m.

While acknowledging that smartphones, computers, and tablets are essential tools, the draft warns that excessive use of social media and video streaming could harm health and family life.