Addiction Economy is a bad gamble for young men. Heres their way out

You cannot scroll on 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 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, Im 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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Yet, we know two crucial things about todays young men: theyre ambitious — and theyre vulnerable. An overwhelming majority (84%) of young men say they have They want to grow. They want to succeed, and in some sense feel that theyre capable of doing so.

But theyre also profoundly isolated and frustrated. Theyre facing a world where the paths to traditional success — like career success, homeownership, marriage, children and more — feel washed away or blocked. They struggle with the ability to make friends with other young men or relate to young women.

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The addiction economy demands young mens attention, time and money, and undermines their vision for a successful life. Left unchecked, society and commercial forces will continue to exploit or ignore their tendency at early ages to use things to numb pain, deal with , or cope with discouragement. But the true role of society should be to help them fulfill their aspirations for good and build lives of purpose.

If we dont offer them a better vision for their lives, the addiction economy will gladly fill the void. Older generations are quick to notice and criticize young men for retreating into digital vices, but scolding and shaming have never produced excellence. Young men may be demoralized, but they havent given up. What they need is a guide and a path forward. They need to know they can build a life they actually want and can inhabit.

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Young men need formation and support if they are to develop their open-ended sense of potential and ambition into real success and healthy relationships with peers, colleagues and romantic partners. They are capable of building good and desirable lives for themselves, and of attaining real excellence. But they need help to do so. And any invested, stable adult is capable of providing the support they need. Their needs are ultimately simple, though urgent.

So, go out of your