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Screen and Gaming Addiction

Maya Malchin, Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, MSW, Director of Addiction
13 May 2026

Screen and gaming addiction is a silent epidemic that intensifies during times of crisis, but it is also present in everyday life. It affects children, adolescents, and adults across health, functioning, and relationships. The recent war highlighted the tendency for many of us to escape into screens, but as routine returns, it is important to “reset”: regain control, set boundaries, and build healthier usage habits.

Adolescents – increased risk

Peer pressure, the need for belonging, and the desire to stay constantly connected—along with platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—are a central part of their world, alongside video games and online communities. These can come at the expense of real-world relationships and may lead to psychological and social difficulties.

Warning signs in adolescents

  • Decline in academic performance and other areas of interest.
  • Excessive screen time, especially at night.
  • Irritability when screen use is restricted.
  • Withdrawal and avoidance of social interactions.

Screens and adults: a quiet addiction that intensifies during crises

Adults are also not immune to screen addiction. During the war, increased screen use was observed as a way to escape stress and anxiety. As with adolescents, there are physical effects (such as back and headache pain), as well as social and psychological impacts. Relationships and career functioning may also be affected.

Recommendations for parents

As with any addiction, self-control is important, but the most effective approach often combines professional support, family involvement, and supportive social environments. There is no substitute for parental role modeling and open, honest communication. If you are concerned about a problem and, as parents, are struggling to cope, it is recommended to seek help early from community services, mental health services, or a family physician, and to remember that every change starts with a small step.

Recommendations for adults

  • Setting regular “disconnect times” when the phone is not within reach.
  • Reducing notifications and increasing awareness of usage patterns.
  • Establishing screen-free zones at home.
  • If the addiction is severe: seeking cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and professional help through health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and mental health centers.

Over the past decade, screens have become an inseparable part of our daily lives. They are everywhere: at home, at work, at school, and recreation. They provide immediate access to information, communication, and entertainment, and can even serve as tools for remote medical and therapeutic care. However, alongside these clear benefits, a growing and complex problem has emerged: excessive screen use to the point of addiction. This phenomenon is not limited to children and adolescents, but also affects adults of all ages, bringing with it health, psychological, and social consequences.

Adolescents are especially vulnerable to screen addiction due to peer pressure, the need for belonging, and the desire to remain constantly connected. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are a central part of their world. In addition, online gaming communities create virtual spaces that provide a sense of belonging and social status, but sometimes at the expense of real-world relationships.

Differences between screen addiction and gaming addiction

Screen addiction includes excessive use of smartphones, computers, social networks, video streaming, and even pornography or gambling. Gaming addiction refers specifically to video and computer games, where children, adolescents, and adults struggle to stop despite negative impacts on sleep, studies, or work. Gaming addiction is characterized by a unique mechanism: gaming is built on strong reward systems—levels, points, and achievements—that create continuous reinforcement loops in the brain. These mechanisms activate the dopamine system, the brain’s reward pathway, similar to other addictions, and lead to significant difficulty in stopping gameplay.

Current trends and data in Israel

According to the 2024 Brookdale Institute report, conducted for the Addiction Treatment Department of the Ministry of Health, a concerning picture emerges:

  • 28% of adolescents reported screen use that disrupts their daily routine in areas such as sleep, studies, and social life.
  • 17% of adolescents meet the criteria for “gaming disorder” as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Among adults, 1 in 5 reported that screen use negatively affects work, relationships, and health.

Impacts during periods of stress and war

The past year, especially the “Swords of Iron” war, has intensified the phenomenon. Many people turned to screens as an escape from stress, to stay updated with news, or to pass time. The report indicates a sharp increase in screen use during stressful periods, especially among adolescents and young adults. The Brookdale report found that during the war:

  • 8.3% of Jews and 19.3% of Arabs in Israel are at risk of gaming addiction.
  • Use of social media, games, and content consumption increased significantly among children, adolescents, and adults.
  • Help-seeking rates remain low, especially among young people and men.

Crisis periods create an increased need to escape reality, which can deepen problematic usage patterns even after routine returns.

Screens and adults: a quiet addiction that intensifies during crises

Adults are also not immune to screen addiction. During the war, increased screen use was observed as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. The shift to remote work blurred the boundaries between work and leisure, and the smartphone became a tool used simultaneously for work, news consumption, and entertainment.

The Effects and Risks of Screen and Gaming Addiction

Studies show that adolescents who excessively use screens experience higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The fear of missing out (FOMO) increases the pressure to stay constantly connected, even at night—which negatively affects sleep, concentration and academic performance. 

From a health perspective, excessive screen use may cause several symptoms: 

  • Back and neck pain.
  • Eye fatigue.
  • Insomnia due to exposure to blue light radiation (generated by electronic screens).

From a mental health perspective, excessive use of social media may lead to several symptoms: 

  • An increased sense of social comparison.
  • A lack of self-satisfaction.
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Among adults, a prominent phenomenon is “physical presence with emotional absence”: partners sit together but are absorbed in separate screens, each on their own device, which leads to reduced intimacy and a sense of disconnection in the relationship and within the family.

  • Mental health risks: increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and reduced self-esteem.
  • Functional risks: impaired academic performance, reduced work motivation, and concentration difficulties.
  • Physical risks: back pain, eye strain, reduced physical activity, and weight gain.
  • Sleep problems: insomnia and disruption of sleep cycles.

Warning signs in adolescents

  • Decline in academic performance and other areas of interest.
  • Excessive screen time, especially at night.
  • Irritability when screen use is taken away.
  • Withdrawal and avoidance of social interactions.

Coping with Screen and Gaming Addiction

  • Set clear limits on screen time.
  • Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, sports, and social interactions.
  • Have open conversations about healthy versus harmful screen use.
  • In severe cases: seek professional treatment (CBT) and clinical support through health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and mental health centers.

Important to remember: As parents, we have a responsibility to set an example. When parents reduce their own screen use in front of their children, it has a strong impact. It is recommended to create a family routine without screens, such as meals and gatherings where mobile devices are kept away from participants.

  • Set regular “disconnect times” when the phone is not within reach.
  • Reduce notifications and increase awareness of usage patterns.
  • Establish screen-free zones at home.
  • If the addiction is severe: seek cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and professional help through health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and mental health centers.

Family coping with screen addiction

Boundaries

Establishing ‘screen time’ for all family members, and prioritization of quality screen-free time.

Open conversation

To recruit children and adolescents to the process, to conduct pleasant conversations about the advantages and risks, and to share emotions.

Providing access to leisure activities

Clubs, sports, creative groups and social initiatives that reduce screen time and promote a sense of achievement and belonging. 

Seeking professional guidance

It is recommended to seek professional advice in the following situations:

  • When a child, adolescent, or adult is unable to control screen time despite repeated attempts.
  • When there is a clear decline in functioning (school, work, sleep, or social relationships).
  • When there are accompanying emotional symptoms such as anxiety, loneliness, sadness, or anger.
  • When family members feel exhausted, frustrated, or experience repeated conflicts on the issue.

Treating screen addiction

There are various therapeutic approaches for screen addiction, and the choice of treatment depends on age, the severity of the addiction, the family environment, and additional accompanying symptoms (mental, emotional, or physical).   Screen and gaming addiction can often be successfully treated, especially when combining a professional approach with family and community involvement.   Currently available therapeutic approaches:

  • CBT Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: The primary therapeutic method for dealing wtih non-material addictions including screens and gaming. The therapist helps the patient identify problematic patterns, set boundaries, develop self-control, and improve coping skills for stress and anxiety.
  • Individual emotional therapy: Suitable for cases of depression, anxiety or emotional regulation difficulties that accompany addiction.   Occasionally in combination with medication, if needed (as recommended by a psychiatrist).

  • Parental guidance: Extremely important for children and adolescents. It helps parents set boundaries, understand the child’s need for screens, and initiate alternative, non-digital activities.
  • Family therapy: Suitable for cases in which family dynamics or atypical communication patterns are involved in the development or exacerbation of the addiction. 

  • Support groups: Groups led by professionals and peer support meetings help individuals struggling with addiction meet others facing similar challenges, feel a sense of belonging and realize they are not alone.   Was found to be particularly effective for adolescents, but also for adults.
  • Behavioral group therapy: It combines shared learning of tools for regulation, development of interests outside of screens, and practice of interpersonal communication. 

  • Psychiatric evaluation: Suitable for individuals with comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and similar conditions, and sometimes medication is incorporated. 
  • Family physician consultation: For initial consultation, further assessment, and referral to mental health services or ongoing treatment.

  • Applications and barriers: restricted access to sites, reminders on screen time and “programming” cutoff times in the device.
  • Use of screen as a reward rather than as a default.

In conclusions: screen and gaming addiction is a silent epidemic that worsens during times of crisis but also occurs during normal times.  It affects the health, function and relationship of children, adolescents and adults alike. The recent war highlighted our tendency to escape into screens, but as routine is restored, it is important to do a “reset”: regain control, set boundaries and build healthy usage habits. 

As with any addiction, self-will is important, but the most successful process is often one that combines professional support, family support and supportive social environments.   There is no substitute for parents acting as a role model or for holing candid conversations. Seek help as soon as possible from community services, mental health services, or your family doctor, and always remember—every change begins with a small step.  . 

Screens are here to stay. The question is whether we are managing them, or they are managing us.

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