Memorandum
- From
- Derek Weston via fox - Opinion
- Date
- Filed
- Society·6 min to read
- Re
Pastor Warns 'Addiction Economy' Targets Young Men as Gambling and Porn Use Surges
RePastor Warns 'Addiction Economy' Targets Young Men as Gambling and Porn Use Surges
A pastor and commentator argues that the 'addiction economy' is exploiting young men's lack of agency, with 35% gambling weekly and 42% watching pornography weekly, and calls for mentorship and community support as the way out.
Young men are being drawn into a cycle of digital addiction at alarming rates, with roughly one-third gambling daily or weekly and nearly half watching pornography with the same frequency, according to data from the Institute for Family Studies cited by a pastor and commentator. The pattern, which some call the «addiction economy,» is fueled by companies spending millions on advertising for sports gambling and prediction markets, with young men as the primary target audience.
The data paints a stark picture: 35% of young men gamble daily or weekly, 42% watch pornography daily or weekly, and 86% play video games daily or weekly. These habits are not isolated. More than half of young men, 61%, say they often feel they have little control over the things happening to them. That pervasive sense of powerlessness drives them toward digital escapes that offer a temporary illusion of control, thrill, or connection.
Yet the same young men are not lacking in ambition. An overwhelming 84% say they have ambitious plans for their future. They want to grow and succeed, and they believe they are capable of doing so. But they are also profoundly isolated and frustrated. The traditional paths to success — career advancement, homeownership, marriage, children — feel washed away or blocked. Many struggle to make friends with other young men or relate to young women.
The addiction economy demands their attention, time, and money, undermining their vision for a successful life. Left unchecked, society and commercial forces will continue to exploit or ignore their tendency to use things to numb pain, deal with anxiety, or cope with discouragement. The true role of society, the pastor argues, should be to help them fulfill their aspirations for good and build lives of purpose. If we do not offer them a better vision, 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 have not 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.
Formation and support are essential if young men 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. Any invested, stable adult is capable of providing the support they need.
Their needs are ultimately simple, though urgent. The pastor urges adults to go out of their way to establish strong, authentic, transparent relationships with the young men in their lives. Show them they are not alone, that they are not unique in their struggles. Provide relatability and accountability, hand in hand. These relationships will help remove the burden of guilt, embarrassment, and shame for young men. This is part of being human. We are all going to struggle, often with the same things. These common struggles allow us to encourage and remind young men that they have the ability to overcome them.
It is also important to help young men feel like they have agency in their own lives, and that their lives have meaning. They have a lot of questions: how to be successful, find a fulfilling job, make friends, and navigate dating. Often, adults have to help them find answers and take practical steps to feel more in control of their future. Make sure they have the space they need to ask important questions and share vulnerable feelings or experiences without feeling judged, dismissed, or doubted.
Young men also need a clear vision for their lives, and a clear vision of how they fit into their own communities. Help them develop their ambitions into specific plans. Help them come to know and understand how much impact they can have, just by showing up to serve. Whether at work, at church, in their friendships, or in their families, young men need opportunities to contribute, make a difference, and see that their lives matter to the people around them.
Mentors have to help them build lives they want to live. And in order to help them build those lives, we must step into their present lives without fear, without judgment, and without hesitation. They want to succeed — they just need our support. The addiction economy that has them firmly in its grasp is not something to be feared. It is one of the most profound opportunities to enter and help change the course of the lives of young men. It is time to step in.
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