If teens leave social media, gaming could become their next digital hangout

For gaming firms, social media sits at the centre of their user acquisition strategies. Platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and short-video apps function as discovery engines and community hubs where players learn about new titles, watch creators, and share gameplay content. If younger users lose access to such platforms, discovery of new games could slow by 20–40% in the short term, particularly for smaller titles that rely on viral visibility rather than large ad budgets.