As much as screen time is a necessity these days, we all know the dangers of having too much. Which is probably why Japanese city Toyoake has proposed limiting screen time to two hours outside of work or school. Worth noting though that the city is not enforcing the two-hour limit, emphasising that it’s only a recommendation and will not be binding.
The Japan Times cites Toyoake mayor Masafumi Koki as saying that the proposed ordinance is “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues … including sleep problems”. This will apply to all residents of the city, with children aged between 12 and 15 also urged to avoid smartphone use after 9PM. Kids older than that get the cutoff time pushed to 10PM instead.
According to the report, “the ordinance will be considered next week, and if passed, it will come into effect in October”. Which prompted online backlash, citing the unrealistic two-hour limit. Confusingly, the mayor clarified that the limit was not mandatory.
The report also cites a survey by the Children and Families Agency in March that the Japanese youth spend slightly over five hours a day online, on average. Previously, the Kagawa Prefectural Government issued a similar ordinance limiting children to an hour of gaming a day, or 90 minutes on holidays.
(Source: The Japan Times)
