Tokyo: Toyoake city of Japan has recently presented a proposal, in which all residents have been advised to use smartphones for a maximum of two hours per day. The aim of this initiative is to reduce the physical and mental problems caused by online addiction and increasing screen time. City Mayor Masafumi Koki said that excessive use of smartphones is causing many problems including sleep problems. An effort is being made to stop this danger through this proposal. This proposal is currently under discussion in the city council and if approved, it will be implemented from October. This is Japan’s first attempt to bring this type of development to the community level.

According to the new guidelines, primary school students and young children have been advised not to use smartphones and tablets after 9 pm. Whereas teenagers and adults have been instructed not to use the device after 10 pm. This rule is not mandatory, hence no action will be taken against those who break it, but the purpose is only to create awareness. Toyoake city has an estimated population of 69 thousand. In just four days after the proposal was announced, officials received 83 phone calls and 44 emails, out of which about 80% people considered the proposal an attack on personal freedom. Some even considered it completely impractical.

It is noteworthy that this initiative is not the first time. In 2020, children in an area in western Japan were advised to play video games for only one hour on weekdays and 90 minutes on holidays.