My 13 year old is obsessed with this game and it's all he wants to do after school. I've tried limiting it but he just gets angry and sneaks more time on it when I'm not looking. His grades are dropping too. Anyone dealt with gaming addiction in their kids? Feel like I'm losing control here.
Screen time limits are one thing, but the real issue with gaming addiction at that age is the dopamine loop. You might need to be firmer than you think and help him find other stuff that actually interests him. It sucks but sometimes that's the only way to reset it.
This is tough because saying 'no' just makes them want it more. What if you got curious about the game instead? I know it sounds counterintuitive but sometimes kids will self-regulate better if you're not the bad guy trying to take away their fun.
Yeah, I feel this one hard. My kid's not quite at that age yet but I'm already dreading it. Have you tried sitting down with him to understand why the game hooks him so much? Sometimes it helps to get at the root instead of just pulling the plug.
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Gaming at 13 is tricky because it's also how they socialize with friends now. That said, there's definitely a line between normal and obsession. Have you tried replacing it with something else he's excited about, or does he just shut down when you take it away?