Japan recommends two hours of smartphone use per day

The city of Toyoake, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan , plans to recommend that residents limit smartphone use to two hours a day outside of work or school. However, the regulation is non-binding, and there will be no penalties for those who violate the rule. Toyoake Mayor Masafumi Koki explained that the aim of the recommendation is to "prevent physical and mental health problems, including sleep problems, caused by excessive device use." The draft regulation recommends that elementary school students avoid using their phones after 9:00 PM, and middle school students and above avoid using their phones after 10:00 PM.

The proposal sparked backlash on social media.

The proposal sparked widespread backlash on social media. Many users criticized the app as "unrealistic" and argued that families should make the decision themselves. In response to the backlash, Mayor Koki emphasized that the limit is not mandatory, but merely a guide for healthy use. The bill will be voted on next week and, if passed, would take effect in October. A similar step was taken in Japan in 2020 in Kagawa Prefecture, limiting children's playtime to one hour on weekdays and 90 minutes on holidays. According to research published by the Agency for Children and Families in March, Japanese teenagers spend an average of more than five hours online on weekdays.