More Games, Less TV: How Young Kids’ Screen Time is Changing
Published: May 12, 2025
More and more attention is being paid to how much children and young people use their screens. But a new report shows that what children spend their time doing on those screens is just as important as the screen time itself. The report raises important questions about the new ways in which children are being exposed to gambling mechanics, with the potential to lead to gambling disorders later in life.
The report, conducted by Common Sense Media, found that children under age 8 have recently shifted how they are spending their screen time. Most children spend about two and a half hours on their screens. But the report reveals that they have recently shifted away from spending that time watching longer-form videos and instead are playing games and watching short-form videos. Since 2020, time spent on gaming alone has increased by 64 percent.
This shift in screen time may be resulting in more children being exposed to gambling mechanics in certain video games. While video games as an overall activity are not necessarily a cause for concern, certain video games contain mechanics that can expose children to gambling before they are of legal age. Those mechanics, like loot boxes and social betting, can simulate gambling – with the potential to cause significant harm to children.
Children who are exposed to gambling when they are young are more likely to experience a gambling disorder as an adult. They are also more likely to experience a wide range of behavioral health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and illegal drug use. With children now spending more of their screen time on games than before, there is a rising risk that they may be exposed to gambling and experience these negative effects.
With that in mind, there are several ways that parents, educators, and all Ohioans can work to protect children from being exposed to gambling.
- Educate parents: Many parents are aware of the effects of screen time generally. But gaming is rapidly changing, and many parents may not know that their children’s games contain gambling. Access the Parent Guide to help educate yourself and parents or caregivers you may know about the prevalence of gambling in games.
- Access educator and professional resources: Educators and professionals can play an important role in helping prevent youth gambling. Visit the Educators page to access an educator guide and student resources, and the Professionals page to access toolkits and customizable resources.
- Consider a digital detox: Implementing an intentional digital detox in your house can have a positive influence on you and the children you care for. To learn more about digital detoxing, visit the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition and ADAMHS Board’s Digital Detox 101 site.
- Set parental controls: Parents can set limits on their child’s screen time by placing parental controls on the length of overall time on devices, specific games and sites, and more.
Want to keep the conversation going? Change the Game Ohio offers many resources to help prevent youth gambling across Ohio, including a two-minute quiz to gauge your child’s risk level. Follow us on social media at @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, and Pause Before You Play on Facebook, where we regularly talk about the issue of youth gambling and provide practical tips for parents, educators, professionals, and more.