Game developers group says game bans won’t solve child safety issues online

• Photo from Pixabay

The Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) said banning games will not address the broader concerns surrounding child safety online, as it called for shared action among families, schools, platforms, government, and the gaming industry.

In a statement on child safety in digital spaces, signed by GDAP President Ria Lu, GDAP extended its condolences to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragic school shooting in Tacloban.

The group said the public discussion should focus not only on how incidents happen, but also on how similar tragedies can be prevented.

“Our shared objective is simple: How do we make digital spaces safer for our children?” GDAP said.

GDAP noted that gaming has changed over the years and is no longer an activity enjoyed mainly by children. In the Philippines, it said around 62.4 million people play games, with more than 80 percent of gamers being adults. The group also said the average gamer is around 36 years old.

The association said games, like movies, are created for different audiences. Some are designed for children, while others are intended for adults. To help families make informed decisions, the industry uses internationally recognized age rating systems such as ESRB, PEGI, and IARC.

GDAP said the current discussion raises two separate questions. The first is whether violent video games, by themselves, lead to serious acts of violence.

“After more than two decades of international research, the available evidence has not supported that conclusion,” GDAP said.

It added that youth violence is a complex issue involving several factors, including family environment, bullying, mental health, and social influences.

The second question, according to GDAP, is how children gain access to games that are clearly intended for adults.

“This is where we believe the conversation should focus,” the group said.

GDAP said the gaming ecosystem already includes safeguards such as age ratings, parental controls, and platform moderation tools. However, it said these safeguards are most effective when parents understand and use them.

The group said developers must provide accurate age ratings and content warnings, while platforms must provide parental controls, moderation, and age verification. It added that parents and guardians should stay engaged in their children’s digital lives, schools should teach digital citizenship and responsible online behavior, and government should help educate the public on available safeguards.

“GDAP does not believe that banning games will address the broader issues surrounding child safety online,” the group said.

Instead, GDAP said it supports evidence-based policies that strengthen digital literacy, improve awareness of age ratings and parental controls, promote responsible gaming, and encourage greater collaboration among families, educators, government, platforms, and the industry.

GDAP said it is ready to work with government agencies, schools, parents, and digital platforms to develop practical programs that will help Filipino children navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly.

“The question before us is not simply whether one game should exist. It is how we create an online environment where every Filipino child can safely learn, play, and grow,” GDAP said.