In the Japanese city of Toyoake (a suburb of Nagoya), the city council adopted a recommendation that advises residents not to spend more than two hours a day on a smartphone, tablet or laptop during non-working hours. This is not a law and does not imply fines – the document is designed as a reminder and incentive for self-control, and not as coercion. The portal reports this Time.

Where does the idea come from and what do they want to change?

The initiative came from Mayor Masafumi Kouki, who was concerned about how screens were driving people away from each other and stealing hours of sleep. In his words:

“Even on trains and subways, everyone just looks at their phones and doesn’t talk anymore.”

Another problem is that prolonged screen time before bed suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps you fall asleep. The brain receives a signal that night has not yet come, and sleep is postponed, whereby the person does not get enough sleep, which leads to low efficiency at work and an increase in accidents.

The council also hopes to reduce the anxiety and isolation associated with being constantly on social media. Toyoaka emphasizes that the restriction concerns leisure time and does not apply to time associated with work or study.

What exactly is recommended

The recommendation passed with a vote of 12 to 7. For younger students, it is advised not to use smartphones after 21:00for middle and high school students – after 22:00. The mayor emphasizes that this is not a ban, but a public advice. According to his plan, the city does not want to punish people, but to help them think about the balance between the screen and real life.

Reaction of residents – from skepticism to approval

The initiative has sparked controversy, but it has also opened up a conversation about how to maintain sleep and face-to-face communication in the age of smartphones. The mayor hopes that such innovations will help people regain lost minutes and make life a little quieter and closer. Opinions were divided. Young people believe that the device performs several functions at once, so the limitation seems unrealistic.

“Today, our smartphone is used for studying, hobbies, and communication,” says student Shutaro Kihara, and for many this is an argument why the two-hour limit is ineffective.

Some fellow citizens, on the contrary, support the idea as a reminder of health and communication.

Kokuka Hirano, 59, admits she spends her nights reading the news on her phone and laments that time is slipping away. City Councilwoman Mariko Fujie, who voted against, called the initiative excessive and said that it “causes a feeling of overload.”

The mayor and his team hope that even if not everyone strictly adheres to the recommendation, the very fact of the discussion will help some return part of their morning or evening to people, and not to screens.

What does it give

The advantage of the recommendations is their simplicity: it focuses on the problem of sleep and live communication and does not require the involvement of the police or new resources. In practice, the effect will depend on habits and the meaning people find in giving up screens. Experts usually advise combining such initiatives with educational and psychological support: explaining the mechanisms of sleep, offering alternatives for leisure, helping families develop common rules.

Such measures are not uncommon in the world. Some countries are discussing restrictions on social media for teenagers, and many municipalities are seeking a balance between freedom and the health of citizens. Toyoake, in fact, has launched a public experiment – and for now the authorities will be watching to see whether it will change a daily habit or remain a symbolic recommendation.

Quitting smartphones before bed improves teens’ sleep and grades

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