Limiting Digital Device Use

The City Assembly of Toyoake, Japan, a city with 68,000 residents, recently introduced a rule limiting the use of digital devices to two hours per day outside of work and school. The idea was introduced by mayor Masafumi Kouki. He’s grown concerned that residents, particularly children, have become addicted to digital devices. The new law has no penalties for exceeding the 2-hour limit, and the government will not be tracking cellphone and tablet usage. The hope is that in a society that has social pressure to follow official guidelines, the amount of device usage will drop. While it has not yet been officially recognized as a psychological diagnosis, youth phone addiction is a growing concern for many health officials. Excess phone usage has been linked to declining grades, social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression.