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If you´re the parent of a teen, they likely play or have played video games. One of the most common activities that teens spend their free time doing is gaming. Nearly 85% of US teens report playing video games, and 97% of those are teen boys.
Video games can be a great way for youth to connect with each other, improve hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. However, when does gaming become a problem? Pew Research Center estimates that nearly 9% of teens are addicted to gaming [1].
Read on to recognize the signs of video game addiction in teens, how violence in video games influences teen mental health, and strategies for parents to help their teens manage their gaming time and build healthier digital routines.
Understanding Gaming Addiction
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized video game addiction and in 2022, it was included in the DSM-5 as “gaming disorder”. The criteria to be diagnosed includes:
- The inability to stop playing video games.
- Anger or aggression when one can´t play.
- Impaired functioning and continued use regardless of negative consequences [2].
Excessive gaming can impact academic performance, relationships, mental health, and even physical health [3][4][5].
- Academic Performance: Teens who spend excessive time gaming have lower GPAs.
- Relationships: Many teens may isolate and withdraw socially due to video game addiction.
- Mental Health: Gaming disorder is linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, reduced attention span, and impaired emotional regulation.
- Physical Health: Some research suggests playing video games increases the risk of obesity due to sedentary behavior and unhealthy dietary patterns (eating late at night while playing video games, eating junk food, drinking soda or other caffeinated drinks to stay awake).
Statistics on Teen Gaming Habits
Several key statistics that highlight the role video games play in the lives of teens include [1]:
- 41% of teens report playing video games daily.
- Around 62% of teen boys identify themselves as a “gamer”.
- Most teens play on gaming consoles (73%) and smartphones (70%), with fewer playing on laptops, VR headsets, and tablets .
- Over half of gamers say playing has improved their problem-solving skills, but 41% report it has impaired their sleep.
Signs of Gaming Addiction in Teens
Several signs of video game addiction can manifest physically, emotionally, and behaviorally in teens. These include:
- Physical: Headaches, eye strain, fatigue, weight gain, or problems with posture.
- Behavioral: Neglecting school, hobbies, or self-care to game, spending excessive hours in isolation playing video games, changes in sleep or appetite.
- Emotional: Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, restlessness, feelings of guilt or shame, anger, or aggression when they can´t access video games.
Do Video Games Lead to Real-World Violence?
A lengthy debate since the 1970s is whether video games are linked to real-world violence among youth. This topic gained popularity in 1976 when the release of the arcade game, Death Race, received criticism for its violent content.
Today, concerns around the rise of school shootings and increased violence in video games have made many ask if there is a link. Are popular video games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Rainbow Six Siege increasing levels of violence in teens? According to experts, the results are mixed.
Some studies show a significant correlation between playing violent video games and increased aggressive behaviors. While other studies show that gaming has no significant effect on real-world behavior. One study in Frontiers in Psychology found that about 5% of teen aggression could be attributed to violent video games, supporting the General Aggression Model (GAM) [6].
This model states that violent video games reinforce aggressive beliefs and desensitization, which can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior, particularly in at-risk youth who struggle with unresolved mental health problems, trauma, or unstable home environments.
Experts recommend limiting teens’ exposure to violent video games above what’s rated age appropriate, similar to how movies are rated for their presence of violent or offensive content, The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) classifies popular video games into several categories as well: E for Everyone, T for Teen, M for Mature (17+) and A for Adult (18+).
Violence Level | ESRB Rating | Description | Video Game Examples |
No Violence/Family Friendly | E | Little to no violence or offensive content | Fall Guys, Mario Kart, FIFA, Tetris, Rocket League, Among Us |
Mild to Moderate Violence | T | Cartoonish or animated violence | Fortnite, Minecraft, Sims, League of Legends |
Realistic/Graphic Violence | M | Graphic, bloody, realistic combat, mature sexual themes, profanity, | Assassin’s Creed, GTA 5, Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, Gears of War |
Extreme/Explicit Violence | A | Heavily restricted and only marketed for adults. Include sexually explicit or pornographic content and often disturbing themes such as sexual violence, self-harm, and torture | Thrill Kill, Hatred, Outlast 2, |
Practical Tips for Parents to Help Teens With Unhealthy Gaming Habits
Becoming aware of youth video game addiction and the influence of violence in video games is the first step to helping your teen develop healthier gaming habits. Other strategies include effective use of parental controls to limit gaming or screen time, encouraging more face-to-face interactions, and having open discussions about your teen’s online experiences.
Effective Use of Parental Controls
Although it’s important to give your teen more privacy, independence, and trust the older they get, if you are concerned they are being negatively impacted by their gaming habits, there are several apps and computer software programs providing parental controls to monitor, track, and restrict what teens are doing online.
These tools provide parents with the ability to view search histories, track screen time, and restrict certain websites (e.g., websites with adult-only content). Some of the most effective parental control tools include Qustudio, Norton Family, and Bark.
Some key features of parental controls for gaming include:
- Age-appropriate content: Block or restrict games based on their ESRB rating (refer to chart above) so teens only access suitable content.
- Screen-time management: Set limits for screen time, turn off internet access or wi-fi after a certain time to reduce screen time before bed.
- Restrict in-game purchases: Prevent unauthorized in-game spending by requiring your approval or blocking purchases altogether.
- Interaction Controls: Monitor who your teen interacts with online. You can block or restrict messages from people they don’t know in real life.
Encouraging Face-to-Face Peer Connection
Over 70% of teen gamers say they play to socialize with others, and 47% report they have made friends online through gaming. From 2003 to 2023, face-to-face interactions between youth have declined by 45%, highlighting the significant role that the digital world and online interactions play in their life [1].
Teens are naturally social as they develop and explore their identity, look for a group to feel part of, and are influenced by peers. Teens crave social relationships and benefit from extracurricular activities, such as sports or the arts, as well as recreational spaces, peer mentorship, and structured community activities.
Open Discussions About Online Experience
From a young age, it’s helpful to create an open, trusting, nonjudgmental space where your teen feels comfortable coming to you about distressing experiences or interactions, including the ones they have online.
It’s important to talk to your teen about online predators, how to deal with cyberbullying, financial scams, and identity theft. It’s also important to teach them that not everyone they interact with, whether in gaming and chat rooms or social media, is authentic and portrays reality online.
Providing Education and Support for Teens and Their Families in Texas
Clearfork Academy is a network of behavioral health facilities in Texas committed to helping teens recover from behavioral addictions, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. We understand the importance of addressing gaming, online trends, and social media apps, all of which play a significant role in the lives of today’s youth.
If you think your teen is struggling with video game addiction, reach out to our team and we can support your family.
Sources
[1] Sidoti, O. et al. 2024. Teens and Video Games Today. Pew Research Center.
[2] Gaming Disorder. 2022. World Health Organization.
[3] Tamanna, T. et al. (2023). Online gaming and its effect on academic performance of Bangladeshi university students: A cross-sectional study. Health science reports, 6(12), e1774.
[4] Staiano, A. et al. (2020). Video Games, Obesity, and Children. Current obesity reports, 9(1), 1–14.
[5] Thilini, I. 2024. Online Gaming and Dietary Habits. Linnaeus University.
[6] Shao, R. et al. 2019. The Relation of Violent Video Games to Adolescent Aggression: An Examination of Moderated Mediation Effect. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 10.
Family Program Therapist
Meg Sherman holds a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Utah Valley University, is licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapy Associate and Chemical Dependency Counselor in the state of Texas, and focuses her professional areas of study on trauma recovery, neuroscience, and relationship dynamics..
She has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, first as a church youth group leader, then as a high school theatre teacher. Following the joys and challenges of helping her children through various diagnoses and substance use struggles, Meg entered the mental health field and pursued training in EFIT, Gottman, and EMDR techniques.
She currently lives in Granbury with her husband and an utterly spoiled cat, where she enjoys playing harp/piano, composing music, and writing young adult fiction.
