Loss of interest from kids as they grow up

There’s been a trend of young players, which are key to the game’s sustainability, losing interest in their teens, as other esports games and life seem more exciting.⁹ As some experts have noted, this is because chess is largely seen as a scholastic tool, instead of a lifelong hobby. Perhaps a shift in how chess is viewed, as well as new tech features and the ability to earn income, will properly incentivize youth to continue playing chess into adulthood.