Internet Gaming Disorder May Affect 1 in 10 Adolescent Boys: Study

Researchers have found that boys are five times more likely than girls to develop online gaming addiction problems, which could have a profound impact on their mental health.

A long-term study tracking children from late childhood through adolescence indicates that internet gaming disorder (IGD) may begin in early adolescence and worsen during the teenage years, with the compulsive behaviors impacting boys at a much greater rate than girls.

Internet gaming disorder is a condition characterized by persistent and excessive online gaming that disrupts a person’s daily life, causing distress or functional impairment. Symptoms often include losing control over gaming habits, experiencing withdrawal when unable to play, developing a tolerance that requires more playtime for the same satisfaction, and continuing to game despite problems with relationships, health or responsibilities.

According to prior research, the effects of video game addictions can start as early as elementary school in some individuals. As a result of these mental health risks, lawsuits have been filed targeting certain gaming platforms, with numerous claims alleging that sites like Fortnite and Roblox intentionally target minors in such ways that exacerbate their addictions to online gaming.

Alongside claims the gaming system was deliberately designed and marketed to appeal to minors, a growing wave of Roblox lawsuits allege the platform has become a hub for child sexual abuse, where predators exploit weak safety controls to make contact with young users. In many of the complaints, parents say their children were groomed and exploited through Roblox, leading to in-person assaults, sextortion, explicit image sharing and long-term psychological harm.

New research published in the journal Addiction late last month, now indicates that one in 10 boys under the age of 18 will experience symptoms of internet gaming disorder at some point during their adolescence.

The study was conducted by a team of Norwegian researchers, who looked at a sample of 812 boys and girls who were born in 2003 and 2004 to determine the depth of involvement and consequences from online gaming for the cohort.

Led by Lars Wichstrøm of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the research team used clinical interviews to assess symptoms of internet gaming disorder at the group and personal levels.

Examining the cohort in five waves every two years from the ages of 10 to 18, the researchers found that between 1% and 2% of children met the criteria for internet gaming disorder at any given time. Across the eight-year study, about 6% were diagnosed at least once between ages 10 and 18. Boys were far more likely to be affected than girls, roughly 10% compared to 2%.

Children’s heavy gaming tended to rise slightly through their mid-teens, then drop off sharply by age 18, while the negative effects of gaming stayed about the same. Gaming habits became more consistent as kids got older, but early patterns weren’t strong predictors of later problems. 

However, those who were heavily involved in gaming were more likely to stay that way over time and were also more likely to experience negative effects by ages 14 and 18. As a result, the team concluded that early adolescence could be an important period to step in with help before gaming problems become more serious and harder to treat.

Roblox Lawsuits

As concerns over online gaming addictions among youth mount across the globe, a series of Roblox lawsuits in the U.S. also allege that the platform is not only intentionally designed to addict children, but is rife with sexual predators, who are grooming and sexually exploiting minors through chat features and other aspects of intentional design.

In one of the first lawsuits to directly link sextortion on the app to a child’s suicide, a wrongful death lawsuit brought earlier this month claims that a 15-year-old boy took his own life after being groomed and blackmailed by a predator on Roblox and Discord.

Prior to that action, a motion was filed in September to consolidate more than 30 Roblox child sexual exploitation lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of California, in which the court was asked to centralize the claims to avoid duplicative discovery, prevent inconsistent rulings and streamline pretrial proceedings. Related claims also targeted Discord, Snapchat and Instagram.

To determine whether you or a loved one may be eligible for a Roblox lawsuit settlement, submit information about your potential claim for review by a Roblox lawyer. A confidential evaluation will determine whether compensation may be available. There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained in the case.

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