Sleepwalking Into a Video Game Addiction Crisis?

Publish Date : 09/18/2025

Smartphones may dominate the conversation regarding the dangers of technology. Parents, doctors, teachers, and researchers are openly discussing how addictive apps and endless scrolling are destroying teen mental health. But while everyone focuses on phones, another crisis has been quietly building: video game addiction.

A new survey shows teenage boys now spend more time gaming than in school. On average, 15 to 17-year-olds play nearly 34 hours a week—almost five hours a day. That’s more than the time secondary schools are required to keep kids in class. Behind closed doors, the glow of a rectangular screen is shaping a new kind of dependence.

The problem is the sheer number of hours these platforms demand. In just one year, the average weekly playtime jumped by 3.5 hours, while nearly two-thirds of parents now say they worry about addiction.

Their fears aren’t unfounded. In 2019, the World Health Organization officially recognized gaming disorder as a real diagnosis. The symptoms sound disturbingly familiar: losing control over play, prioritizing gaming over everything else, and continuing despite negative consequences. For some kids, the fallout is devastating : grades drop, sleep disappears, friendships fade, weight is gained, repetitive movement injuries to necks and wrists appear, and in extreme circumstances, self-harm and/or harm to others.

It’s not just the time sink. Video games today are designed with casino-like tactics to hook young players. Microtransactions, endless challenges, and social pressure turn gaming into a system of compulsive engagement. Many games even include gambling-style mechanics, normalizing risky habits before kids are old enough to drive.

Meanwhile, teens are spending far less time face-to-face with friends, outdoors, or in community spaces. Loneliness is spiking, and mental health referrals for kids have surged over 50% in just the past few years.

So while the world debates screen time and social media, gaming has quietly become this generation’s hidden addiction.

Cost of Hiring a Video Game Addiction Lawyer

Hiring our firm costs nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if we receive compensation. If you win, our fee will be a percentage of the settlement or verdict, so there are no out-of-pocket expenses unless we succeed.

Feel free to contact one of our attorneys at 1-877-542-4646 or by using the form below if your family has suffered any adverse side effects due to a video game addiction. Your information will remain confidential, and a lawyer will provide a free legal consultation.