Japan Town Proposes 2-Hour Daily Smartphone Limit

Toyoake, a city in Japan, is urging residents to limit smartphone use to two hours per day to combat online addiction and sleep deprivation. The non-binding ordinance, aimed at both children and adults, sets recommended device curfews of 9 pm for young children and 10 pm for teens and adults. Mayor Masafumi Koki emphasized that the measure is voluntary and designed to spark family discussions about device use. While some residents criticized the proposal as restrictive and unrealistic, officials argue it addresses behavioral issues linked to excessive smartphone use, including truancy and disrupted family time.