How to set boundaries with technology for better focus and connection

Can’t put your phone down? You’re not alone. #Smartphone addiction is on the rise around the world. It brings with it a range of health risks, from depression and anxiety to sleeplessness. In #Japan, the average high school student spends 6 hours a day online - more than any other age group. Now the country is taking steps to tackle smartphone addiction. Here’s how. As the influence of digital technology on society increases, so do its risks. A new report by the World Economic Forum explores these challenges, and offers strategies to promote a healthier relationship with our screens. Learn more in our feature: https://ow.ly/waHM50XeP5b

Can’t put your phone down? You’re not alone. 📱 In #Japan, high school students average 6 hours of online time daily—the highest among age groups. The country is now tackling this challenge head-on. 🇯🇵🕒 As digital tech's role in society grows, so do its risks. The World Economic Forum report explores these impacts and strategies for healthier screen relationships. 📊💡 Read the full feature to learn more about how we can foster digital wellbeing worldwide. 🌐✨ #DigitalWellness #TechMindfulness #ScreenTimeManagement #MentalHealth #HealthyTech #SmartphoneAddiction #Wellbeing #Innovation #WorkLifeBalance #MindfulTech

The World Economic Forum recently highlighted Japan’s initiatives to address “smartphone addiction,” citing Toyoake City’s new ordinance and the establishment of a “smartphone dementia” clinic. These efforts indeed reflect public concern about digital overuse. However, the article may unintentionally give the impression that Japan’s approach is grounded in well-established scientific consensus. In reality, researchers are still debating how smartphone and SNS use affect mental health — and whether restrictions are the most effective response. As discussed in my recent interview with Kyōiku Shinbun (“Concerns about smartphone regulation ordinances,” Oct 2025,[https://lnkd.in/gpShcz5F]), empirical evidence shows that the quality of digital communication matters more than the quantity. Our studies at the RIKEN found that: One-to-one online communication with close others can increase happiness. In contrast, “one-to-many” social media browsing tends to raise loneliness, largely because it reduces face-to-face interaction. https://lnkd.in/g-VSERR7 This suggests that simple time-limit regulations, such as Toyoake’s “two-hour rule,” lack scientific grounding and may overlook deeper causes. In many cases, excessive smartphone use follows — rather than causes — mental health difficulties. Evidence-based responses therefore require counselor support and school-community collaboration, not only restrictions. Japan’s ordinance can serve as a valuable social experiment if accompanied by careful evaluation and data collection. What is essential is that future digital-wellbeing policies — in Japan and globally — move beyond fear or intuition, and rest firmly on scientific evidence about human connection and mental health.

"For years, I have been warning about the neurological impact of tablets and smartphones on individuals—how constant exposure to digital stimuli can reshape attention patterns, memory retention, emotional regulation, and even empathy. Now, Japan has validated this position with growing national concern and studies showing measurable cognitive and behavioral effects, especially among younger generations. The country’s initiatives to address “digital brain fatigue” and rising attention disorders highlight what neuroscience has long predicted: our brains are adaptive, but not immune to overstimulation. This is not merely a technological issue—it is a human one, calling for mindful balance and policies that protect the integrity of our most vital system: the mind." Dr. Thomas Agrait - NeuroLean Division at Lean Enterprise Consulting - www.lec.guru

We’ve built tools to connect us, but they’re quietly rewiring us. Smartphone addiction isn’t just a buzzword; it’s becoming a global behavioural epidemic. In Japan, teens spend 6+ hours online daily, and they’re leading a trend that’s spreading everywhere. The result? A rise in anxiety, sleeplessness, and emotional disconnection the side effects of our constant need for dopamine hits. Japan’s new approach to tackling smartphone addiction could be a blueprint for other nations. If we don’t take conscious control of our tech use, the algorithms will happily do it for us. 📱 Worth reading: World Economic Forum’s report on how we can reshape our relationship with our screens. #DigitalWellbeing #HumanBehaviour #Neuroscience #Education #MentalHealth

Japan’s approach to tackling smartphone addiction is a strong reminder that even advanced nations are rethinking the balance between digital life and human well-being. In Qatar — where we are rapidly advancing toward a smart, connected nation — we should also consider how to protect focus, family time, and mental health amid constant connectivity. Digital progress is powerful only when it enhances our quality of life, not replaces it. Perhaps it’s time to include digital well-being policies alongside digital transformation — through awareness in schools, family education, and community engagement. Japan’s model shows that small changes at the local level can have a big social impact. #Qatar #DigitalWellbeing #Leadership #Innovation #SmartNation #Technology #MentalHealth

The problem of smart phone addiction and its impact being most adverse for the young is true for our country too. As a school leader, I have been witnessing so many students, their families and all of us in school grapple with the negative effect of smart phones on our students’ lives. Many teens are grubby in school because they are sleep deprived. A lot of them are unable to attend school regularly. Their friendships suffer because they fail to juggle between metaverse and their offline lives. They are exposed to age inappropriate content not out of choice but on account of online exposure. And all of this is just the tip of the ice berg. Everyone is just talking about the challenges. It’s high time that we catch the bull by the horns. When on a street, we guide our children to hold our hand, be by our side, not talk to the strangers, stay alert but what about guiding our children on the street caller ‘internet’, where they roam around unmonitored? While our role as an adult in our children’s life is to prepare them to live a full life minus us, we must not forget that we ought to guide and mentor till they become independent. A baby drinks milk and is introduced to solid foods as the digestive system evolves. This is true for exploring technology too. Our children must learn to use technology effectively to their advantage but they must develop the requisite maturity to deal with it before they are given smart phones of their own. We must make a genuine effort to protect them and create an ecosystem that empowers them to use technology, see value in it and not end up as victims of technology.

Smartphone addiction is a growing concern in today’s hyper-connected world. It’s not officially classified as a #clinicaldisorder in most diagnostic manuals, but many experts recognize it as a #behavioraladdiction due to its impact on #mentalhealth, #productivity, and #relationships. It has good deeds like helping staying in touch with family, friends, and work. Access to tools, calendars, and apps that help manage tasks, news, learning resources, and entertainment. But, its excessive use is linked to #anxiety, #depression, and #sleep disturbances. Constant notifications can fragment focus and reduce deep thinking, it can lead to less face-to-face interaction, feelings of isolation, eye strain, poor posture, and reduce of physical activity turning into a sedentary life.

📱 In a world where screens never sleep, our connection to technology has begun to disconnect us from ourselves. Rising #SmartphoneAddiction is fueling a silent crisis of anxiety, insomnia, and digital dependence — with Japan’s youth spending an average of six hours online daily, the highest among all age groups. Yet, through awareness, innovation, and policy reform, nations are beginning to reclaim balance in the digital age. The World Economic Forum’s new report calls for global strategies to foster mindful technology use and a healthier, more human-centered digital future. 💚 #DigitalWellbeing #MentalHealth #TechForGood #Innovation #GlobalTrends #WorldEconomicForum #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #FutureOfSociety

I recently shared evidence from #Florida, United States, showing how limiting smartphone use in schools can improve attendance and learning. Now, #Japan is taking this conversation beyond the classroom. A recent article from the World Economic Forum highlights that people in Japan spend an average of 20 hours a week on their phones — and that among students, heavy smartphone use is linked to higher levels of loneliness. Surveys show around 10% of high schoolers and 25% of university students may be affected by problematic use. In response, cities like Toyoake are introducing guidelines: – No more than 2 hours of leisure smartphone time per day. – Phone use ends at 9 p.m. for elementary students and 10 p.m. for older students. Clinics are also treating “smartphone dementia,” warning that up to 20 million people could be at risk of attention and memory issues linked to overuse. Different countries are experimenting with ways to rebalance our relationship with technology. Read the full article by Naoko Tochibayashi here: https://lnkd.in/eQArsc3R