Opinion

‘Addiction Economy’ is a bad gamble for young men. Here’s their way out

Data shows 35% of young men gamble daily or weekly as digital escapes exploit their isolation

By Russ Ewell Fox News

Published October 4, 2026 8:00am EDT

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You cannot scroll on social media, watch television or even make a purchase online without being inundated with advertisements for sports gambling and prediction markets. Companies are spending millions to make sure we see them, and their primary target audience is young men.

Data from the Institute for Family Studies confirms just how deeply this has taken hold: roughly one-third (35%) of young men gamble daily or weekly. This is not the only digital habit growing among young men today. Nearly half (42%) watch pornography daily or weekly, and most young men (86%) play video games daily or weekly.

This is what some people refer to as the "addiction economy." As a pastor, I know young men who engage in these things every day. And, to be honest, I’m not surprised. More than half (61%) of young men say they often feel they have little control over the things happening to them. Coping with this pervasive felt lack of agency drives them toward digital escapes that offer a temporary illusion of control, thrill or connection.

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