"All Citizens Limited to Two Hours of Smartphone Use Per Day"... Japanese Ordinance Sparks Public Outcry

Ordinance Bill Submitted to City Council; Implementation Set for October if Passed
Mayor Responds to Controversy: "This Is a Guideline, Not a Compulsory Measure"

A local government in Japan has sparked intense controversy by proposing an ordinance that would limit all citizens to just two hours of smartphone use per day. The move has drawn backlash for infringing on personal freedoms, while supporters argue it is necessary to protect young people.

Toyoake City in Aichi Prefecture recently announced on August 30 that it had submitted this ordinance bill to the city council.

The ordinance bill recommends restricting elementary school students' smartphone use to before 9 p.m., and those under 18, including middle and high school students, to before 10 p.m. It also advises all citizens to limit their total daily smartphone use to within two hours. If the ordinance passes the council next month, it is scheduled to take effect in October. However, there are no penalties for violations.

While there have been previous cases in Japan of legally restricting internet usage time, this is the first time a specific standard of two hours per day has been stipulated.

Immediately after the announcement of the ordinance bill, citizens voiced their opposition. Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun reported that as of the 25th of this month, about 130 objections had been submitted to the city hall. Most criticisms argued that "it is unfair to regulate even private life by ordinance" and called it an "unrealistic restriction."

As the controversy and criticism intensified, Mayor Masafumi Goki, who promoted the ordinance, explained on the 22nd, "The ordinance does not restrict citizens' rights or impose obligations; it merely provides guidelines for life balance and is not compulsory." He also emphasized that the two-hour limit refers to leisure time, excluding sleep and meals, and does not include activities such as studying, e-sports training, or using smartphones while cooking or exercising.

There have already been similar attempts within Japan. Since 2020, Kagawa Prefecture has limited children's and adolescents' gaming time to 60 minutes on weekdays and 90 minutes on holidays. Smartphone use is also restricted to before 9 p.m. for middle school students and younger, and before 10 p.m. for high school students and older. After five years of implementation, a survey found that more than half of respondents said "rules have been established at home," indicating some effectiveness.

The issue of excessive smartphone use among children and adolescents is also a topic of debate in other countries. Australia plans to implement a law in December this year restricting the use of social networking services (SNS) and YouTube for those under 16, while France is discussing a complete ban on SNS use for children under 15.