The “Violence” Children Play

Extensive use of technology, social media, violent games are said to factor in the growing violence among minors.

However, there are overlooked factors or should I say, undermined, Children who are troubled and conflicted are the fruits of an equally troubled society.

It’s not only having unaware parents

It’s also about living in an unaware, burdened community and society. Let me explain.

First of all, I am not defending the two minors from Tacloban who committed a crime on June 22 that resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to about 20 others, including students. What I am defending, however, is the principle that children are still children. Their innocence and limited capacity for judgment should not be overshadowed by the perception that they are as capable as adults of committing and fully understanding heinous crimes.

Is it really violent video games or time spent on social media that have exposed our children to violence? Well, I peeped into games like Roblox and GoreBox, and they are quite graphic. They’re not really for kids. However, focusing solely on video games is kind of lame.

According to reports, GoreBox has been associated with several violent and extremist cases. The suspect in the 2025 Odintsovo school attack was reportedly active in the game’s community and engaged with content based on real-world mass shootings. In Singapore, a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly self-radicalized by Islamic State ideology used GoreBox and Roblox to recreate IS attacks and was later issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act. – Wikipedia

I read that the Senate committee holding hearings on the violent incident has invited the game developers to explain the safeguards they have put in place. I am not quite sure how that would be relevant, or whether the developers will even participate.

Why not simply ban these games to make a strong statement that, here in the country, we are serious about curbing violence? Besides, if even the “shared responsibility” approach — in which parents and schools are expected to play a role — is already proving ineffective, we might as well just block these games. After all, what are we going to lose if we no longer have access to them?

Green spaces and healthy pretend play

When we were young, we used to play baril-barilan (toy gun combat), yet we never thought about shooting real people. In fact, I am uneasy around real guns and firearms.

I think that is because the environment for children was healthier back then. We had green spaces! We had places to play, imagine, and engage in make-believe. The line between reality and fantasy was much clearer. Unlike today, both adults and children now live their material, everyday lives intertwined with a virtual one. The line between reality and fantasy has blurred.

Then, we had proper places to play. We also had spaces where we could make friends with people who shared our interests. Interactions were real, not simulated. Children were more accustomed to solving problems creatively and finding ways to occupy themselves.

Now, where are the green spaces?

Many have been replaced by malls and condominiums. Even churches — places where people once connected with one another and nurtured their spirituality — have, in many cases, been moved into malls.

Indeed, consumerism is wreaking havoc on us, yet it continues to be justified in the name of economic progress.

But at whose expense? Is overconsumption really making our lives better? No. In fact, it has come to the point where our primary outlet for expression is through social networking platforms.

Hyped up freedom of expression

I have also noticed that media censorship appears to be either too lax or inconsistent in its standards for reviewing what is shown on television and in films. There is also too much emphasis on freedom of expression. These freedoms have limits too.

That said, the situation today is that our values and patterns of consumption seem to be producing a generation of children and young adults who no longer think seriously about accountability, or at least the full extent of it.

The Tacloban shooters, for instance, appear not to have thought beyond the age of criminal liability. They may have simply understood that those aged 15 and above can be jailed, while those below 15 generally cannot. Hanggang doon lang ang comprehension nila. It’s both frightening and sad.

Short-sighted accountability

Our children also take cues from us adults, many of whom seem to have little regard for accountability beyond the immediate moment. We often fail to ask, “What happens if…?” and to consider the consequences of our actions before making decisions

Now, the know-it-all adults are hammering away at video games and social media. Well, they may have a point, but they have barely commented on violent television shows such as Ang Probinsyano. Is the violence depicted in these shows somehow legitimized simply because it is viewed in the family living room or on shared mobile devices?

Mind you, this goes beyond claims about misanthropic or nihilistic ideas allegedly being propagated by a cult linked to certain players of these violent video games.

“Nihilism” narrative

By the way, are we really trying to philosophize the situation involving minors and violence now? Nihilistic violent extremism, what??! How are ordinary Filipinos even supposed to understand that?

Misanthropy is the dislike of, or distrust in, humanity, human behavior, or human nature. Nihilism, in simple terms, is the belief that values and beliefs are baseless and that life has no inherent meaning or value.

These ideas are so unlike children. Children are full of life, with vivid and colorful imaginations. Sa kanila nga nanggagaling ang innocence — the ability to see the world with wonder and without constant judgment. Misanthropy and nihilism are concepts more commonly associated with people who have become deeply disillusioned with life and society.

Next time, let’s take a closer look at this “764” or “Com Cult,” which was mentioned during the Senate hearing and is allegedly linked to Satanism.

Normalized ill-wishing

Now, there’s also the normalization of words like “patayin” or “mamatay.” Isn’t that quite common these days?

I was surprised to see a veteran journalist and university professor write on her social media wall that her birthday wish was for those involved in the flood control scandal to die. Many people, perhaps unwittingly, picked it up as something funny or on point.

As a result, statements like “mamatay na sana si…” have become increasingly common in everyday conversations and online discussions.

Groomers hound gaming platforms

As for video games, groomers will likely find their way into almost any platform that has a social networking element. Wherever there are spaces for people to interact online, there will always be individuals looking to exploit them.

But how do we stop developers from creating these games? Can we even do that?

Perhaps the government could simply ban the apps in the country. Or perhaps it could criminalize their distribution, including their promotion and advertising.

Much like what we do with e-sabong and online gambling sites, although, unfortunately, online gambling platforms are still being advertised online.

Targeting children and expecting them to understand the world the same way adults do is, in a way, taking away their childhood as well. Maybe, let’s start by educating — or at least helping — adults become more responsible too.

Militarization in school

But militarizing our environment just to enforce rules so that we can operate within “lawful” parameters can be detrimental as well, can it not? Think again. We end up living in fear and dread. We become paranoid. How can we function normally, think clearly, and make sound judgment calls if we are constantly compelled to act out of fear and simply follow rules imposed by authorities or law enforcement just so we can be “safe” or avoid being labelled as “violators”?

One legislator mentioned deploying more security guards and metal detectors in schools. Why not start by teaching self-empowerment instead? Why not encourage and recognize the unique potential of every child, rather than placing so much emphasis on getting straight A’s and rewarding only those who excel academically with support and recognition from teachers? Bakit ba hindi rin mabigyan ng encouragement at boost ang mga estudyanteng hindi academically outstanding?

Why not also strengthen efforts to educate students about bullying and different forms of abuse — physical, emotional, social, psychological, and sexual? Whether the perpetrators are at school or at home, students should know that they have the right to speak up and seek protection from school authorities.

Why is the default response always to involve law enforcement? Do we really think that the mere presence of law enforcers can deter violence? If so, where is the evidence? Show us the statistics.

Greater focus on mental health

If some sectors are fighting tooth and nail to include sex education, family planning, and SOGIE-related topics in the curriculum, is it not equally — if not more — pressing to teach children self-confidence, empathy, and how to deal with bullying, whether as victims, bystanders, or even as those who engage in it?

I kind of agree with another legislator who said that this is not merely a peace-and-order issue, but also a youth welfare issue, a public mental health issue, and a challenge to the education system.

And yes, sana mabigyan ng mas malaking focus ang mental health among young people, as well as adults. We need greater awareness of the extent of mental health challenges. Too often, a person’s mental health struggles are still demonized, used to ridicule them, or even turned into a case against them instead of being understood and addressed appropriately.

Need for more counselors

But regarding his suggestion to increase the number of licensed counselors in schools, there are more immediate solutions without having to pass another law or allocate additional funding for results that are still uncertain.

Puede namang palawakin ang training ng mga social workers so they can better address mental health concerns among both young people and adults. They can work with barangays to develop community-based programs and awareness campaigns.

I have actually wanted to pursue this kind of health awareness program myself, but I still lack the logistics and resources to make it happen. Maybe when our channel grows, we will have the funding to support projects like these.

Maraming stressors ang pinagdaraanan ng mga kabataan ngayon. Isama mo pa ang identity issues at ang tanong kung saan ba sila lulugar sa lipunang ito. Minsan kasi, parang iilan lang ang nabibigyan ng oportunidad na tuklasin at paunlarin ang kanilang kakayahan –yung mga mukhang artistahin, yung mga award hoarders, yung mga may kaya sa buhay, yung mga sektor na laging naaambunan ng government assistance because it makes agencies look good, o kaya yung mga hindi nangangatwiran kapag pinapagalitan o ipinapahiya.

Kapag ganito ang nakikita ng mga kabataan, madaling maramdaman na hindi pantay ang pagkakataon para sa lahat at na may mga taong mas may access sa suporta, pagkilala, at oportunidad kaysa sa iba.

With this Senate hearing, let’s say we succeed in eliminating all these violent video games –now what? Or let’s say we manage to increase the number of guidance counselors in schools. The latest I heard is that Php 2 billion has been allocated to hire 10,000 more school counselors to address mental health and behavioral issues among students and minors. Then what?

We need a just, sustainable, and educated society

For as long as parents remain burdened economically, mentally, psychologically, and physically, we cannot expect them to consistently demonstrate the kind of “ideal” parenting we hope for. Children, in turn, absorb many of those same burdens.

For as long as decent and affordable housing remains out of reach, forcing families to live in cramped homes and chaotic neighborhoods, many children will struggle to fully develop and realize their potential. Instead, they may learn to shrink themselves, conform, and simply adapt in order to survive.

For as long as we lack ample green, free, and accessible spaces for recreation and relaxation, both children and adults will continue to rely heavily on online platforms as their primary source of entertainment and escape.

For as long as children’s voices are stifled — whether at school or at home — and they are constantly told to stay within rigid boundaries, something in their childhood slowly fades. What may emerge instead are young people who feel deprived, alienated, or angry, with few healthy ways to express themselves.

For as long as children are subjected to verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and communities are not equipped or willing to respond — choosing instead to look away because they do not want to get involved — there can be no real justice for children. They will continue to feel that they do not matter and that they are powerless.

For as long as our education system remains unequal, confusing, or overly restrictive, and access to quality education remains unstable, we risk raising generations of children who are less equipped to think critically and independently.

For as long as we, as a society, are not spiritually nourished, we will remain spiritually fragile and unfit to guide our children.

This problem is deep and far-reaching. It is not only about social media or violent video games. Parang we are only scratching the surface. When there is an illness, do we not try to treat the cause rather than merely the symptoms?

What happened in Tacloban may be a symptom of something more profound. People often say that it takes a village to raise a child. In reality, it takes an entire society — with a healthy culture, strong communities, a sense of shared values and purpose, and a strong faith in God– to raise a child well.