Japanese City Have Passed Two Hours A Day Smart Phone Usage

[RAMROD 118,390]

The city council in the Japanese city of Toyoake has passed an ordinance that symbolically limits recreational use of smartphones to just two hours each day.

The council passed the ordinance on Promoting the Proper Use of Smartphones [PDF] because it wants residents – and especially students returning to school – to get more sleep.

“The primary purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that all citizens receive adequate sleep,” states a Council information page, which explains that many Japanese people ignore Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommendations to spend six to eight hours a day dozing. An accompanying FAQ [PDF] explains that Council passed the ordinance because students who return to school after summer vacations sometimes need a nudge the re-establish an appropriate daily regime.

The ordinance also points out “Excessive phone users and their families are facing difficulties in their daily and social lives,” and suggests the two-hours-a-day guidance might help.

Council’s documents point out that smartphones have myriad uses beyond recreation, and that the ordinance should not be taken as a suggestion to reduce overall use of the devices.

Toyoake is part of the Nagoya megalopolis and is home to around 70,000 people. The town’s government plans to survey residents about the ordinance, and the FAQ also mentions it wants to tackle other digital menaces, among them harmful effects of using smartphones while walking.

 

https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/24/japan_toyoake_smartphone_limitation_ordinance/

[Shipper 13,114]

Japan makes sense. 

Watch that city's population increase because of this. 😂

[Roughhouse Dandy 14,061]

Tbh love this in theory

[Sylvia Browne 2,739]

While well-intentioned, this is kinda a huge government overreach.  Don’t tell me when I can and can’t doomscroll lol.  I imagine this will get extremely annoying for residents. 

[Economy 53,236]

9 minutes ago, CubbyGaga said:

While well-intentioned, this is kinda a huge government overreach.  Don’t tell me when I can and can’t doomscroll lol.  I imagine this will get extremely annoying for residents. 

It did say "symbolically", in other words if im understanding correctly, not something that will in any way shape or form be enforced and its compliance completely voluntary...

 

Kinda like turning off your power for Earth Hour

[Duella Dvil 12,608]

I could NAWT survive lol (this is sad I know)

[Sylvia Browne 2,739]

1 hour ago, Economy said:

It did say "symbolically", in other words if im understanding correctly, not something that will in any way shape or form be enforced and its compliance completely voluntary...

 

Kinda like turning off your power for Earth Hour

Oooooooo