🎮 Welcome back to Malestrum — the podcast where a Boomer dad and his Gen Z son unpack what it means to grow up, screw up, and figure things out in a rapidly changing world.
In this episode, Barry and Griffin tackle the growing conversation around gaming addiction, especially among Gen Z males. What started with Doom in the '90s has evolved into a billion-dollar ecosystem of online competition, virtual rewards, and engineered compulsion — and it’s raising serious questions for families, educators, and young men trying to find their place.
Griffin, a recent computer science grad, breaks down the psychology behind why some games feel impossible to quit. Barry reflects on how games have changed over the decades, and the two explore the fine line between community and isolation — and how gaming can meet unmet emotional needs or become a substitute for real life.
🔍 Topics We Explore in This Episode:
Why gaming feels so different (and more addictive) in 2025
The psychological mechanics of loot boxes, gambling, and intermittent rewards
How multiplayer games create artificial “citizenships” and community
Gaming vs. social media: different vices, similar hooks
The WHO’s definition of gaming disorder — and why it matters
When gaming is harmless fun — and when it’s a symptom of something deeper
How isolation, insecurity, and identity crises make some young men more vulnerable
Future topics: the red pill pipeline, digital masculinity, and why context matters
💬 Why We Made This Episode
Gaming isn’t evil. It’s not even the problem — it’s often a symptom of a deeper issue. In an age where in-person connection is shrinking, some young men are turning to digital worlds to feel a sense of mastery, belonging, or even purpose. And like anything, gaming in moderation can be great — but when it becomes the only world that feels safe, we’ve got to talk about it.
🌐 Coming Soon on Malestrum.com:
Extended resources from this episode: links to Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, WHO definitions, and recovery programs
Our free Guide for the Gen Z Male — now available for download
New content on the red pill/alt-right pipeline and the appeal of online masculinity influencers
🎧 Subscribe for honest, intergenerational conversations that don’t assume, preach, or pander. We’re not here to cancel or convert — we’re here to understand.
🌀 Malestrum — A storm worth exploring.
#Malestrum #GamingAddiction #GenZ #Masculinity #MentalHealth #VideoGames #FatherSon #SocialMedia #DigitalDistraction #TheAnxiousGeneration
