A city located in central Japan is encouraging its residents to restrict their recreational phone usage to a maximum of two hours daily. This initiative stems from the mayor’s concerns regarding the adverse effects of excessive device engagement.
New guidelines for mobile and tablet usage have been introduced in Toyoake, a city with 68,000 residents in Japan’s Aichi region.
In an email sent to elementary and junior high school students concerning these changes, the Toyoake municipal government advised: “Prioritize your sleeping hours and overall health, and engage in family discussions about the duration of your smartphone and similar device use.”
Another email, distributed to parents and teachers by the local government, stated: “The principal aim of this ordinance is to guarantee adequate sleep.”
City Mayor Masafumi Koki identifies this as his paramount concern. In a recent interview, Koki remarked, “Junior high school students frequently have their own rooms and personal phones. With limited alternative activities, they dedicate hours to screen viewing. As day transitions to night, their sleep deteriorates, perpetuating a harmful cycle.”
While Koki himself utilizes his phone daily, he aims to curtail its use for non-work or recreational activities and advocates for younger individuals to disconnect in the evenings. Specifically, the mayor suggests that students aged 6 to 12 should cease phone and tablet use by 9 p.m., and for older students, and even adults, Koki promotes powering down by 10 p.m. to prevent sleep disruption.
Unveiled in late August, the proposal instantly attracted criticism from individuals who argued it encroached upon personal liberties.
Responding to the proposal, one critic stated, “Simply put: it’s none of your business,” further asserting: “Many of my constituents believe it is condescending for the city to make such a declaration. This ordinance is utterly illogical.”
Fujie additionally disseminated a newsletter contending that the recommended phone usage limit lacked scientific backing and failed to respect the rights of children and young inhabitants.
Nevertheless, the measure, which received approval from the city assembly in late September with a 12-7 vote, carries more symbolic weight than actual enforcement. The local government has no plans to monitor residents’ phone usage or impose penalties for exceeding the suggested two-hour limit.
Mayor Koki addressed the backlash, explaining that “the two-hour figure became widely misinterpreted. People assumed we intended to enforce a rigid time restriction, which is entirely inaccurate.”
Koki views the unenforced limit primarily as a message, prompting users to reflect on their screen time. “Hearing ‘two hours’ might cause someone to pause and contemplate their actual smartphone usage duration. That’s the core objective,” he elaborated.
Despite the objections, several residents have made efforts to adhere to the two-hour screen time recommendation.
Shoki Moriyama successfully decreased his screen time from eight hours to just under two. He acknowledged the difficulty but found it worthwhile.
“I utilized the additional time for reading a book, some studying, and visiting the gym, ensuring my day was productive,” he conveyed to The Guardian.
University student Akari Saito concurred. “I particularly struggled to put it away during my train commute to school or when walking,” she noted. “However, I recognize that moderating my phone use could make the day seem longer and enable more meaningful engagement.”
A study released in April revealed that “increased digital technology use correlates with diminished childhood well-being.” A separate investigation centered on Chinese teenagers concluded that “screen time had a detrimental link to adolescents’ academic performance, with internet surfing and gaming exhibiting a more pronounced negative impact on academic achievement.”
The July-published study indicated that teenagers’ device usage duration adversely affected sleep length, mental well-being, and parent-child relationships.
