Summer break is here, which means school is out, no more homework, and it’s time to have fun. The lack of routine and scheduled activities, however, may pose a serious risk for children who fill that void with gaming.
“Breaks like summer vacation, holidays, or spring break can be particularly risky times for kids when it comes to developing or worsening video game addiction because they often bring a sudden lack of structure in a child’s day because they don’t have school or after-school activities,” explained Seth A. Katz, Shareholder at Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine.
Burg Simpson has been pursuing video game addiction cases on behalf of children and their families for more than a year.
For many parents in Denver and beyond, determining if a child is addicted and deciding whether to pursue a legal claim against video game developers can be a challenging decision.
Understanding video game addiction, knowing the signs to watch for, seeking medical help, and discussing legal concerns with a Colorado video game addiction attorney can provide clarity.
What Is Video Game Addiction?
Video games are supposed to be fun, but becoming addicted is harmful, especially for kids. Gaming disorder has been alarmingly prevalent enough to warrant inclusion in the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which is “the global standard for diagnostic health information.”
ICD-11 defines gaming disorder (GD) as “a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”
How Can Idle Time Increase Video Game Addiction Risk?
When kids fill most of their idle time gaming, they miss out on other activities, including spending physical time with family and friends. Withdrawing and only socially connecting via video games can increase addiction risks.
“Longer, uninterrupted stretches of free time make it easier to fall into extended play sessions, and without natural breaks in the day, it becomes harder for kids to self-regulate,” Katz said. “Social isolation during breaks can also push kids toward online games for connection, increasing their emotional reliance on gaming. This can result in either developing or cementing an addiction.”
Not every child who plays video games develops a gaming disorder. But seeking professional help is critical when gaming consumes a child’s life.
How Does a Video Game Addiction Develop?
When a person plays a video game, their brain processes the action as if it were real, according to the Mayo Clinic.
So, if a game scenario is violent or dangerous, the gamer’s fight or flight response kicks in against present danger — even though it’s fictional. Excessive video game use can “lead to the brain being revved up in a constant state of hyperarousal.”
Consequently, a person’s reward center in the brain releases dopamine during a pleasurable experience or a state of hyperarousal. The brain also associates hyperarousal while playing video games with dopamine. The more the behavior releases dopamine, the more the player seeks that pleasure repeatedly — as in addiction.
What Are Signs of Video Game Addiction?
“Parents should watch for signs that gaming is interfering with their child’s daily life, such as a loss of interest in other activities, irritability when not gaming or when the games are taken away, or lying about playtime,” Katz advised.
Other signs of video game addiction include:
- Neglecting schoolwork or hygiene
- Staying up late to play video games
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Reacting aggressively to limits
If these behaviors persist or significantly impact a child’s well-being, school grades, or relationships, it may be time to seek professional help, Katz added.
How Video Game Developers Make Games Addictive
The worldwide video gaming market raked in almost $455 billion in 2024 alone.
Companies behind massively popular games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft are facing litigation from parents who claim makers purposely design games to encourage addictive behavior in players.
“Many games are intentionally designed to be addictive by taking advantage of children’s still-developing brains and the dopamine response,” Katz explained. “They use features such as unpredictable rewards, time-limited offers, loot boxes, and endless gameplay to trigger dopamine responses and make it hard for a child to stop playing. These features are designed to have kids enter what is known as the ‘flow state,’ which is when they get so wrapped up in the game that they lose themselves in the game and ignore everything around them, including the ‘stop’ signal that would normally occur.”
“Social features and in-game purchases tap into kids’ need for approval and still-developing impulse control, while reward systems create a sense of obligation to keep going. These tactics exploit children’s psychological and neurological vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of addiction.”
Plaintiffs are filing lawsuits against video game manufacturers for implementing these harmful and dangerous features.
Determining Whether to File a Video Game Addiction Lawsuit
For many parents, determining whether they have grounds to file a video game addiction lawsuit seems overwhelming. Getting professional legal advice is essential in making an informed decision.
Burg Simpson’s compassionate, experienced team learns more about potential clients’ unique circumstances and evaluates each case on its own individual facts.
“For certain claims, a plaintiff will have to establish that the developer, either intentionally or negligently, created a dangerous product (in this case an addictive product) that caused an injury to the user of the game, and the developer failed to warn about or take reasonable steps to prevent against foreseeable harm — and whether this can be tied to damage in the child’s life,” Katz explained.
This harm may include mental health issues, physical consequences, or educational setbacks, to name a few.
Burg Simpson Is Leading the Fight Against Video Game Addiction
Burg Simpson is leading the fight against video game addiction, with decades of experience in personal injury and product liability cases.
“Burg Simpson has a long history of leading mass tort cases, and the results demonstrate our commitment to the cases we pursue,” Katz said. “We have a dedicated team working on the video game addiction cases that is committed to taking on these multi-billion-dollar companies who have put profits over the safety of this country’s children and in our opinion have created an epidemic among kids.”
As for future industry reform, Katz hopes companies that manufacture “gateway” games, the games kids start with that cause addiction, will issue warnings about the dangers of the games and implement some of the available means to make games not addictive.
“There are ways to make video games fun and educational without the addictive features,” Katz said. “So, hopefully, those paths will be employed along with meaningful parental controls and other technologies that can be put in place to reduce the risk of children becoming addicted. That won’t help those children who are already addicted, those children deserve fair compensation for their injuries.”
Currently, litigation is in its initial stages. If you’re looking for a Colorado video game addiction lawyer, Burg Simpson offers nationwide legal services. Call 888-895-2080 to schedule a free consultation.
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post’s preparation.
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