Video games are a ‘convenient scapegoat’ behind minor-inflicted violence despite many studies finding no correlation between games and school shootings, Sen. Bam Aquino said on Monday.
Aquino, who heads the Senate basic education, and science and technology panels, remarked amid discussions of banning violent video games after fatal incidents involving shooting and stabbing occurred in three different schools across the country.
‘Video games have been around for 50 years, but they’re always a convenient scapegoat whenever there’s an incident of violence,’ the senator stressed in a statement. ‘More studies have been done that say there is no correlation between video games and school shootings,’ Aquino pointed out.
Malacañang previously said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is ‘open’ to banning video games that may influence minors negatively.
Aquino rejected the possibility of the ban, calling video games ‘an art form and entertainment medium’ that ‘do not cause violent behavior.’
‘Banning video games in general or as a whole, I don’t think that’s a good solution to our problems,’ he said.
Instead, the senator suggested stricter enforcement of age restrictions on video games, the same way such rules exist for audio-visual media.
‘There are many games that are not for children. Maybe what we can clarify is if there is anything more strict, children’s access to mature video games should be more strict,’ Aquino raised.
He continued: ‘In video game stores and online stores, our rules should be a little stricter when it comes to children and their access to mature video games.’
Additionally, Aquino called on game developers to ensure online games are safer especially for children who are vulnerable to ‘predators, extremist groups, and other harmful individuals.’
The senator said those who develop games for a younger demographic must monitor and ban those that may influence minors to incite violence. /mr