Authorities in Toyoake City, central Japan, are considering an ordinance that would recommend residents limit non-work and non-school smartphone use to no more than two hours per day.
According to the draft regulation, the measure would apply to all residents but carry no legal consequences for exceeding the suggested limit. The proposal also encourages elementary pupils to stop using smartphones after 9 p.m., while junior high school students and older are advised to put their devices away by 10 p.m.
The initiative, however, has been met with strong resistance online. One user on X commented, “I understand their intention, but the two-hour limit is impossible.” Another added, “In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie (on my smartphone).”
Critics argue that such restrictions should be left to households rather than city authorities. In response, the mayor clarified that the rules are not compulsory, noting that the recommendations simply “acknowledge smartphones are useful and indispensable in daily life.”
The city council is set to deliberate on the ordinance next week, and if approved, the guidelines will take effect in October.
A similar measure was introduced in 2020 in Kagawa Prefecture, where children were advised to limit gaming to one hour on weekdays and 90 minutes during school holidays. That ordinance also urged students aged 12–15 to stop using smartphones by 9 p.m., while older teens were given a 10 p.m. cutoff.
Recent government data shows Japanese youths spend just over five hours online daily during school days, highlighting the growing challenge of managing digital screen time.
