Smartphone Ban After 10 PM? Japanese Town Pushes for Screen Time Rules
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A Japanese town is stirring debate with a bold idea-asking residents to cap daily smartphone use at just two hours. The municipal assembly of Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, has submitted a non-binding ordinance that encourages families to rethink screen time habits.
If passed, the guidelines would suggest that children aged 6-12 avoid screens after 9:00 PM, while teenagers and adults switch off by 10:00 PM. The move, the assembly says, is aimed at curbing the health risks tied to excessive screen use-from poor sleep to truancy and behavioral issues.
Mayor Masafumi Koki stressed that the proposal is not about restrictions, but reflection. "This does not mean the city will limit its residents' rights or impose duties," he told The Mainichi.
"I hope this serves as an opportunity for each family to think about and discuss the time spent on smartphones as well as the time of day the devices are used."
Still, not everyone is convinced. Some locals argue that a two-hour limit is unrealistic in today’s world. "Does the city have the right to strip residents of their freedom?" one resident asked online. Another added, "Is it necessary to make this an ordinance?"
The bill, submitted on August 25, will be reviewed in committee before a vote on September 22, the final day of the assembly session. Mayor Koki said he plans to "I want to carefully explain the ordinance, considering possible amendments based on discussions in the assembly."
Whether the plan succeeds or not, Toyoake’s initiative has already sparked a wider conversation-how much screen time is too much?
If passed, the guidelines would suggest that children aged 6-12 avoid screens after 9:00 PM, while teenagers and adults switch off by 10:00 PM. The move, the assembly says, is aimed at curbing the health risks tied to excessive screen use-from poor sleep to truancy and behavioral issues.
Mayor Masafumi Koki stressed that the proposal is not about restrictions, but reflection. "This does not mean the city will limit its residents' rights or impose duties," he told The Mainichi.
"I hope this serves as an opportunity for each family to think about and discuss the time spent on smartphones as well as the time of day the devices are used."
Still, not everyone is convinced. Some locals argue that a two-hour limit is unrealistic in today’s world. "Does the city have the right to strip residents of their freedom?" one resident asked online. Another added, "Is it necessary to make this an ordinance?"
The bill, submitted on August 25, will be reviewed in committee before a vote on September 22, the final day of the assembly session. Mayor Koki said he plans to "I want to carefully explain the ordinance, considering possible amendments based on discussions in the assembly."
Whether the plan succeeds or not, Toyoake’s initiative has already sparked a wider conversation-how much screen time is too much?
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