Is Banning Games the Answer to School Shootings?
Schools are supposed to be safe places where students can learn and spend time with their friends. However, in 2026, there were three school shootings in the Philippines. The first happened in Tacloban in June, where two students opened fire and killed three other students. Another shooting happened in Zamboanga on August 18, where a Grade 9 student killed a schoolmate and then took his own life. The third happened at Banga National High School in South Cotabato on September 18, where two students and the shooter died, while eight others were injured. These incidents made many people ask what can be done to prevent more shootings.
After these incidents, the government also took action against online platforms and games. After the Tacloban shooting, GoreBox was temporarily blocked. After the Zamboanga shooting, there were calls to completely ban Roblox. Later, Discord was also blocked after the Banga shooting, but the ban was lifted in less than a day. These actions show that the government is trying to protect children. However, banning games and apps also affects millions of normal users who use them for entertainment, communication, and making friends.
I think we should ask if games are really the main cause of these shootings. The shooters had access to real guns, and there were also reports about possible bullying in the Tacloban case. We should ask where the students got their guns and if anyone noticed warning signs before the shootings happened. Also, banning an app may not completely solve the problem because kids can use VPNs or simply move to another platform. Filipino game developers have also said that banning Roblox would not stop bad people from moving to other apps.
Instead of only banning games, I think there should be more focus on the real problems. The government should make it harder for people to get unlicensed firearms. Schools should have more counselors and stronger anti-bullying programs so students can ask for help when they are having problems. Parents should also use parental controls and talk to their children about what they do online. At the same time, gaming and social media companies should improve age verification and take action against dangerous or harmful conversations.
Keeping students safe is very important, and something needs to be done after these tragic shootings. However, blocking an app does not remove the reasons why a student may become violent. We need to look at the bigger problems, such as guns, bullying, and warning signs that may be ignored. Games can be part of the discussion, but protecting students should involve parents, schools, the government, and online platforms working together.
Bevin Chvylthans
