July 23, 2025
Parents and Video Games, July 2025
Few Parents See Gaming as a Negative...But Most Set Limits
Most American parents with children under the age of 18 say their kids have access to video games, and a majority play alongside their children at least weekly. While most parents nationally think video games have either a positive or neutral impact on their children, many set restrictions on the types of games their children can play and how much time they spend playing them.
85% of parents with children under the age of 18 say that their kids have access to video games.
More than three in four parents with children under 18 who have access to video games say that they play video games with their children at least monthly. 27% say they do so daily; 38% say they play video games with their children weekly while 12% say they do so monthly.
Only 15% of parents say that video games have a mostly negative effect on their children. 48% report they have a mostly positive effect, and 36% say they have neither a positive nor a negative impact on their children.
There is a gender difference in how parents perceive the impact of video games on their children. 57% of men say the impact is mostly positive compared with 38% of women who say the same.
About two-thirds of parents (66%) say that, if their children play video games, they set a time limit on how much time they spend playing them each day. A similar 65% say they set restrictions on the types of games they can play.
Addiction to Screen Time Main Reason Children Do Not Have Video Game Access
Among parents of children under the age of 18 who do not have access to video games, the number-one reason their children do not have access is concern about addiction or screen time (33%). Lack of interest from the child (19%) and concerns about content (19%) follow. No time or opportunity receives 12%, and a similar proportion (11%) say the main reason is personal or family values. Five percent mention the cost of gaming devices or games.
Online Safety and Lack of Physical Activity Main Parental Concerns
Regardless of whether their kids play video games, the following are the main concerns parents have about video games:
- Online safety and interactions (20%)
- Lack of outdoor physical activity (18%)
- Screen time (15%)
- Violent or inappropriate content (13%)
- Gaming addiction (13%)
- Time away from other responsibilities (9%)
- Cost of games or in-app purchases is too high (5%)
- No concerns (6%)
Methodology
This survey of 2,575 adults was conducted June 13th through June 17th, 2025 by the Marist Poll. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By text or online. Results for all adults (n=2,575) are statistically significant within ±2.1 percentage points. Results for parents with children under 18 (n=876) are statistically significant within ±3.7 percentage points. Results for parents with children under 18 who have access to video games (n=743) are statistically significant within ±4.0 percentage points. Results for parents with children under 18 who do not have access to video games (n=128) are statistically significant within ±9.6 percentage points.