The Municipal government of Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, in Central Japan, has done something that desi parents wish for. The Japanese city in its bill submitted on Monday proposed regulation banning excessive usage of smartphones, limiting screen time to a mere two hours per day during free time. The bill exempts working hours and academia. The bill was submitted at the regular session of the city assembly. The proposed regulation advises students to limit usage of smartphones beyond 9 pm. It seeks to help residents under 18 years of age have sufficient sleep.
Per Nippon(dot)Com, at a plenary meeting of the Toyokae Municoale assembly, city’s Mayor Masafumi Koki remarked
Limiting daily smartphone use at two hours is just a guide.”
He added,
The bill is aimed at promoting measures to prevent residents from suffering adverse effects on their bodies and daily lives from excessive smartphone use.”
Per the news outlet, the bill proposes no penalties for violation of the screentime limit.
Reactions poured in on social media over the Japanese town’s proposed bill. One user recalled childhood before the existence of smartphones and digital devices: “When I was a kid, we watched tv. But it was balanced with playing outside, doing normal things, and not being stuck inside a screen bubble.” The user added, “What’s happening now is excessive. Instead of playing with your kid, you give them phones and tablets to play with. When they get bored outside or have tantrums, you have them watch youtube.”
Another user remarked, “Japan just invented parental controls… for parents too.” A third user argued, “I mean… I get phone addiction is real and bad… but “two hours” is a little uh harsh?” “Don’t they have an overworking problem?” asked another user. One user, meanwhile, stated, “It should be 30-minutes max for children.” Another quipped, “Two hours ain’t even enough time to search for that perfect video.”
As usual, several users missed the point of the proposed bill without going through the entirety of the article.
Internet-induced limiting attention spans shrinking cerebral cortex.
When I was a kid, we watched tv. But it was balanced with playing outside, doing normal things and not being stuck inside a screen bubble. What’s happening now is its excessive. Instead of playing with your kid, you give them phones and tablets to play with. When they get bored…
— Bag chaser (@deadbynextweek) August 25, 2025
Japan just invented parental controls… for parents too.
— Abhishek (@_Abhi_Ke_Abhi) August 25, 2025
Japan cooking pic.twitter.com/M1ot3FdVw9
— The Gary (@The_GaryBro) August 25, 2025
i mean… I get phone addiction is real and bad… but “two hours” is a little uh harsh?
— JOE (@its_jv3) August 25, 2025
pic.twitter.com/sNWPKib2wg
— Sage Pixel (@SagePixel2) August 25, 2025
Don’t they have an overworking problem
— WebToobie (@WebToobie) August 25, 2025
It should be 30-minutes max for children
— Zilla (@basedgodzilla) August 25, 2025
Two hrs ain’t even enough time to search for that perfect video
— Levi.eth (@tetrapeterweb3) August 25, 2025
See Also: Uneasy About Your Kid’s iPhone Obsession? These 3 Parental Control Apps Can Help.
Cover: Pexels
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