Local govt sets daily limit to tackle game addiction

TOKYO: A local assembly in western Japan yesterday passed the country’s first ordinance aimed at reducing internet and video-game addiction among youngsters by recommending that screen-time be limited to one hour daily.

The ordinance has triggered controversy, with critics saying it is overly prescriptive for parents, despite it having no enforcement mechanism.

Taro Yamada, a House of Councillors member well-versed in the impact of internet usage and freedom of speech, criticised the ordinance as “nonsense”, saying it only targets usage time and does not account for how integrated and essential digital devices have become in children’s lives.

The ordinance states that excessive internet usage and gaming leads children to become socially reclusive and to suffer sleep disorders, and emphasises the need for countermeasures enforced by the prefectural government, schools and guardians.

It calls for guardians to establish rules with their children for smartphone usage, and limit computer and video game playing to 60 minutes per day on school days, and 90 minutes a day on weekends and holidays.

The World Health Organization recognised video game addiction as an official disorder.

Although it received support from over 80% of people who provided feedback during a public comment process, the order may prove totally ineffective as there is no way for it to be monitored or enforced.

“A limit of 60 minutes is ideal, but my kids on average play games for two hours a day on weekdays. It’s difficult to stop them because they will make a fuss,” said Kaori Nozaki, a 43-yearold mother of two children aged 10 and eight.

Meanwhile, education pundit Naoki Ogi praised the move, saying, “There are many parents who are at a loss of what to do when it comes to their children’s smartphone usage.”

“It’s better to have specific numbers to provide a guide when creating household rules,” he said.