Study Shows Staggering Number of Young Men Trapped in “Addiction Economy” of Gambling, Pornography
Approximately one in eight men ages 18 to 29 use pornography, gamble, and play video games every single day, according to the Institute for Family Studies (IFS).
The IFS report released last month is based on a YouGov survey of 2,000 Gen Z men living in the United States.
In a statement online, sociology professor Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia said the report shows, “We have a generation of young men trapped in the ‘addiction economy’—and the numbers are staggering.”
Wilcox pointed out that the data shows 11.9% of men in their late teens and twenties use pornography, gamble, and play video games — all three — every single day.
Almost one in four young men said they gambled daily. More than one in four (27%) reported using pornography daily.
But while large number of young men appear to be trapped in the “addiction economy,” Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen points out that the news isn’t all bad for Gen Z:
“While some may look at the facts above and immediately conclude men are the primary source of society’s problems, there are heartening statistics about young men returning to church and prioritizing family life.
“Young men today are more likely to desire positive important life decisions – like going to church regularly, getting married and having children – than young women are.
“According to Gallup, more young men today (42%) say religion is “very important” to their lives than at any point in the last 25 years. Young men are now more likely than young women (29%) to say religion is “very important” to them.
“For the first time in American history, more men attend church than women – with the disparity especially pronounced among 20-somethings.
“In terms of marriage, IFS reports that 68% of unmarried young men want to get married someday, and 62% of childless young men aspire to be fathers.”
The Daily Citizen is right. We have written before about the “quiet revival” taking place among young adults in America and abroad.
Young adults — men and women alike — have driven Bible sales to record levels and are being baptized into the Christian faith. That’s good news.
But the IFS report’s findings are still deeply concerning. Millions of young adults are trapped by addiction — and in some cases, multimillion-dollar corporations are profiting from it. That should trouble everyone.
Arkansas has taken steps to protect young people from gambling and from internet pornography and other harmful material. Clearly more work still needs to be done.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
