In this modern age, smartphones provide an unbelievable deal to our lives. However, if no reasonable restraint is applied, they threaten the mental and physical health of children and youth. Keeping children's futures in mind, a city in Japan penalized the use of smartphones for 2 hours daily. The decision comes off as a bit audacious and very much timely as it gets traction within discourses around the globe.
Where and Why this Decision Has been Made:
Kagawa city, A Japanese city, was the first to formulate this kind of regulation. The local administration of the city argues that if children and adolescents are addicted to mobile games and social networking, their sleep time, study, and conversations with people will be affected. So, a limit of 2 hours has been imposed on smartphones for recreational purposes per day.
What kind of Content does the Limit Apply to in A Japanese City?
It applies mainly to recreational uses such as:
Video games
YouTube viewing
Social Media Browsing (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
Dilly-dallying with unwanted applications
Classes or jobs that seriously deal with smartphones will not come under this limit.
Parents as Role Models
Here is where real involvement of the parents is expected from the Japanese government. Many families welcomed the initiative because they believe that it is indeed in the best interest of their children. Now, children are less glued to long hours of playing video games and rather see themselves engrossed in reading books, parents report.
Criticism and Controversy
But there are several critics of this law. Some say that it is a curtailment of personal liberty. In the opinion of techno-pedagogues, learning about the use of technology should happen through the method of learning control, not by curtailment.
This initiative by Japan is an audacious move forward in the digital age, a step that can be copied in other countries for the security of children's futures in Japanese cities. Parents and policymakers in India must also take notice of this serious issue.
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