I believe gaming addiction was a problem after the consoles came out.

Atari was the first addicting console that had good games that got people addicted, which came out in 1977. Since then technology kept getting better and better as the Saga came out and then slowly Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft took over creating such good games that makes people want to keep playing it. Back then playing with joysticks would bring joy but that doesn't work now a days people expect more everyday and as their wants are completed, it's really not hard for them to get addicted.