This Japanese Town Wants To Limit Smartphone Usage To Two Hours Per Day; Here's Why

Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 16:41 IST

The move has also drawn criticism on social media, with netizens believing it's impossible to use phones only for two hours a day.

The step has drawn massive criticism (Image used for representation)

Smartphone addiction has become a growing concern in today’s digital age. From entertainment and ordering groceries to getting food delivered, our phones have become so integrated into daily life that we rarely put them down. Acknowledging the addiction issue, Tyoake, a town in Japan, is asking its residents to limit their phone usage to two hours a day.

According to the mayor of the town, Masafumi Koki, cited by The Guardian, the initiative seeks to address the mental and physical health issues caused by the overuse of mobile phones.

It aims “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues … including sleep problems," the mayor, Masafumi Koki, said recently, according to the Guardian.

The Toyoake municipal assembly has started discussions on a non-binding ordinance that aims to limit screen time, with a vote expected by the end of next month. If approved, the measure will come into effect in October, but it won’t include any penalties for those who exceed the proposed two-hour daily limit, reported the outlet.

The draft specifically advises primary school children (ages 6–12) and younger to stop using smartphones and tablets after 9 p.m, while teenagers and adults are encouraged to put their devices away after 10 p.m.

While the proposal is the first of its kind to apply to all residents of the city, the move has also drawn criticism on social media, with netizens believing it’s impossible to use phones only for two hours a day.

One social media user wrote on X,“I understand their intention, but the two-hour limit is impossible."

Another said, “Two hours isn’t even enough to read a book or watch a movie (on my smartphone)."

However, Koki has acknowledged the fact that smartphones are “useful and indispensable in daily life", but he also believes that this will be “e an opportunity for families to think about and discuss the time they spend on smartphones as well as the time of day the devices are used."

According to the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, the locals of Tyoake have not taken this very well, with the officials receiving 83 phone calls and 44 emails over a four-day period from people criticisng the move.

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...Read More

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...

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First Published:

August 28, 2025, 16:41 IST

News world This Japanese Town Wants To Limit Smartphone Usage To Two Hours Per Day; Here's Why

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