Internet Gaming Disorder Highest Among Young Adults: Study

Researchers indicate more studies are needed to understand the full effects of video game addiction for all age groups.

According to findings published in the March issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors, one out of every 12 self-identified gamers shows signs of video game addiction, representing more than 1 in 20 adults between the ages of 18 and 35 overall.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a condition where video games take priority over other interests and daily activities, and it is recognized as a mental health disorder by both the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Symptoms used to diagnose the condition include preoccupation with gaming, inability to control gaming behavior, loss of interest in previous hobbies, deception about gaming habits and jeopardizing relationships or opportunities.

The consequences of video game addiction may include delayed financial independence, unstable relationships and a slower transition into adult responsibilities, as individuals begin ignoring relationships, skipping work and avoiding daily obligations.

As a result of these concerns, dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the makers of Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox, claiming those games are intentionally engineered to foster addiction in children and teens. The complaints, filed nationwide, allege the design choices of the games increase engagement by using invasive algorithms that track children’s activity and exploiting that data to increase profits with no regard for users’ mental health.

In addition to addiction risks, a series of Roblox sexual exploitation lawsuits also raise allegations that the platform has become a focal point for child sexual exploitation. Families claim inadequate safety protections allowed predators to contact and groom young users, leading to incidents involving sextortion, the exchange of explicit images, in-person abuse and significant psychological trauma.

For the new study, researchers from Spain and Italy reviewed 96 studies published from 2015 to 2025 focusing on internet gaming disorder in young adults. Led by Dr. Julia Gisbert-Perez, the team focused on 149,600 participants ages 18 to 35.

The data indicated that video game addiction was more common among young adults than in the general population, with roughly 6% of young adults showing signs of the disorder, according to the study’s estimates. Among gamers, 8% had gaming addiction. Among mixed samples that included gamers and non-gamers, the prevalence of addiction was 5.47%.

According to Gisbert-Perez, studies show that video game addiction ranges from 3.05% and 6.7% in the general population.

The findings also suggest that the prevalence of video game addiction increases over time. However, when women were included in the study population, that prevalence became lower, indicating the incidence is higher among males.

“Overall, this study provides valuable data to inform public health policies, clinical screening practices, and targeted educational programs for young adults at risk of developing IGD.”

— Dr. Julia Gisbert-Perez, Prevalence of Internet gaming disorder in young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Researchers warn that prevention strategies and mental health interventions targeted to young adults are needed to help reduce the likelihood of internet gaming addiction. Additionally, they called for more studies focused on consistent research methods to understand the full picture of video game addiction among all age groups.

Video Game Addiction Lawsuit Consolidation

The study was published as video game addiction lawsuits against manufacturers such as Epic Games, Roblox Corporation, Microsoft and Mojang continue to be filed across the country. 

In June 2024, lawyers for many families filed a motion to consolidate cases under a single federal judge. However, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ruled the lawsuits were too broad and covered too many companies, video games, tactics and platforms to consolidate.

In September 2025, another request was made to consolidate three games considered gateway games for addiction in young children. Those games include Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft. The court rejected that motion as well, once again citing the scope of the litigation as too broad.

However, the JPML did approve a separate multi-district litigation (MDL) consolidating 30 Roblox child sexploitation lawsuits in the Northern District of California only days after the other request was denied. In this case, the court said the lawsuits involved common questions of fact and law, which were centered on one game and its safety features.

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