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BOGOPHORIA UNFILTERED
The recent shooting involving a minor in Tacloban shocked the entire country. Like everyone else, we want answers. We want accountability. Most importantly, we want to make sure tragedies like this never happen again.
But banning online games or games with violent themes?
We think that’s another band-aid solution to a much deeper fracture.
The temptation after every tragedy is to act fast. We understand that. The public wants action, and leaders feel pressured to respond immediately. But quick action is not always good policy.
Violence among young people is rarely caused by a single factor. Family dynamics, parenting, access to firearms, mental health, peer influence, social media, school environments, and community support all play a role. Reducing a complex issue to “video games caused this” oversimplifies a problem that deserves a much more serious discussion.
Instead of immediately calling game manufacturers and developers into hearings, perhaps we should first be calling child psychologists, psychiatrists, educators, criminologists, social workers, pediatricians, law enforcement officers, parents, and even young people themselves. These are the people who spend years studying child behavior, violence, trauma, and adolescent development. They should have a seat at the table before anyone decides on sweeping policies.
We also hope that policy decisions are guided by evidence rather than optics. Calling in game developers may create headlines and send a message that government is taking action, but real leadership isn’t measured by how quickly we respond. It’s measured by whether our response actually addresses the root cause.
If we truly want safer schools and safer communities, then we need long-term solutions instead of short-term reactions. We need stronger mental health programs in schools. Better support systems for families. Responsible firearm regulation and enforcement. Early intervention for at-risk youth. More guidance counselors. Better parenting education. More investment in community programs that give young people healthy spaces to grow.
These conversations are difficult because there is no single villain and no simple fix.
That’s exactly why we need to slow down.
Sit down.
Listen to the experts.
Study the evidence.
And build policies that will still make sense ten years from now—not just tomorrow’s news cycle.
That’s how lasting change happens.
This is Bogophoria Commentary. These are our opinions, and we welcome respectful discussions from all perspectives.
What do you think? Should government focus on banning violent games, or should it prioritize addressing the deeper causes of youth violence? Let’s talk.