Study Shows Staggering Number of Young Men Trapped in “Addiction Economy” of Gambling, Pornography

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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.

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What Will Arkansas Get from the Settlement with Meta?

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Last week, social media giant Meta agreed to a $17.1 billion settlement with dozens of state attorneys general over a slate of consumer protection lawsuits. As part of the agreement, Meta must add a host of safety features to protect teens on Facebook and Instagram.

The proposed Settlement Agreement is still waiting for final court approval. If approved, Attorney General Tim Griffin says Arkansas would receive more than $172.4 million.

But when will Arkansas receive its share of the settlement and where will the money go? Here is what the proposed Settlement Agreement says:

Meta would pay the settlement money directly to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office. The agreement’s payment language says “For the State of Arkansas, payments . . . shall be made directly to the Office of the Arkansas Attorney General.”

The settlement says the State of Arkansas may use the settlement money “for any lawful purpose.”

Settlement money in consumer protection cases often funds initiatives to address the harm that prompted the lawsuit in the first place.

For example, Arkansas uses tobacco settlement money to fund the State’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program and other public health initiatives.

Arkansas uses money from an opioid settlement to address the opioid crisis.

Attorney General Griffin’s office has said the settlement funds from the lawsuit against Meta “will be spent consistent with the agreement, including on mental health and keeping our kids safe.”

Settlement payments to Arkansas would be made annually over the next ten years and could be nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

At a minimum, Arkansas would receive $17,245,993.63 from Meta within 30 days after the settlement takes effect.

Assuming the settlement takes effect this year, Arkansas would then receive another $17,245,993.63 every January 15 until 2035.

That means over the next 10 years, Arkansas would receive a minimum $172,459,936, but Meta could be forced to pay more if certain “contingencies” in the settlement are met.

For example, if Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube become subject to teen age-verification and usage requirements that are substantially similar to Meta’s — and if certain other conditions are met — Meta would pay Arkansas another $7.4 million per year.

Several lawsuits are currently in play against TikTok and other social media platforms that could force them to adopt youth-safety and usage restrictions that are similar to Meta’s.

Between minimum payments and the other contingencies in the Settlement Agreement, Arkansas could receive close to $250 million from Meta over the next decade.

Tech platforms like Meta are multibillion-dollar corporations. The men and women who profit from these businesses have a responsibility to protect their users — especially teenagers.

Children deserve proactive protection online. If tech companies won’t give children that protection, then it’s up to voters and elected officials to make sure they get it.

Family Council appreciates Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin for going to court to protect kids online.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Meta Settles Teen Social Media Addiction Lawsuits for $17 Billion

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On Wednesday, social media giant Meta — owner of Facebook and Instagram — agreed to settle a slate of lawsuits over teen social media addiction for a total of up to $17.1 billion. If approved in court, Arkansas would receive nearly $172.5 million.

It has been estimated that 95% of American teenagers use social media, and about one-third use it “almost constantly.” But in recent years, state attorneys general have filed lawsuits alleging social media platforms are addictive and harmful.

In 2023, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued Meta in state court for endangering children. In the lawsuit, his office alleged that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are built around algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.” The A.G. says this exploitation is especially harmful for young users with developing brains.

Arkansas’ lawsuit against Meta was the first of its kind, but since then dozens of similar lawsuits have been filed against Meta, TikTok, and other tech giants.

In a statement, Attorney General Griffin called the settlement “historic,” saying, “I am immensely grateful to the incredible attorneys and other staff in my office who have invested countless hours working on this case and helped secure this historic result for Arkansas and its children.”

Meta settled the cases the week before CEO Mark Zuckerberg was set to take the stand in a landmark lawsuit that claims Meta routinely collected data on children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal law. The lawsuit also alleges the company knowingly designed its platforms to addict young users and hid what it knew about the harm its platforms caused.

Under this settlement, Meta will be required to shut teen accounts down overnight and limit how long kids spend on Facebook and Instagram.

Meta will also hide the “like” counts it built to keep kids hooked, and it will implement age verification and age-appropriate content controls.

The settlement does not include any admission of wrongdoing on Meta’s part or an apology to anyone who may have been harmed by Meta’s platforms.

It’s worth pointing out that courts in New Mexico and California have already found Meta liable for harming children on its platforms.

Social media giant TikTok has also found itself embroiled in controversies for failing to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party.

TikTok has also been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” and violating laws intended to protect children online.

Tech platforms are multibillion-dollar for-profit corporations. The adults who own and profit from these businesses have a responsibility to protect their users — especially teenagers.

Children deserve proactive protection online. If tech companies won’t give children that protection, then it’s up to voters and elected officials to make sure they get it. Family Council appreciates Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and the other state attorneys general who have gone to court to protect kids online.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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