The Japanese news headline hints at a growing trend in Japan where the prevalence of smartphones is potentially contributing to a decrease in verbal communication between spouses. It seems to highlight an alarming concern regarding how technology may be subtly affecting personal relationships, especially in marriage where communication plays a pivotal role. The timing of this trend suggests a more recent development, with the heightened role that smartphones now play in everyday life significantly increasing.

In traditional Japanese societies, family values and maintenance of personal relationships are typically given high importance. This decline in conversation between couples due to smartphone usage likely resonates as a pressing issue, hinting at a technology-induced erosion of essential cultural values. Japan being at the apex of digital innovation and social development, the culture is struggling to maintain a harmony between the two.

Much like in Japan, spouses in the U.S. and EU are seeing similar effects in their own lives owing to overusage of smartphones. Studies and discussions regarding the impacts of technology on relationships and communication are quite common in these regions, highlighting a global concern.