Educate and regulate, not eliminate

Illustration by Eko Maria Manaloto

Any time issues emerge, people in every generation look for someone or something to blame. These days, one of the newest targets is online gaming. Parents, educators, legislators, and gamers have all recently debated the possibility of outlawing online gaming in the Philippines. Although there are legitimate worries about gaming addiction and how it affects youth, just banning online games is a foolish answer that fails to consider the wider picture.

For me, online games are not merely a form of entertainment—they have become a source of income and opportunity for countless Filipinos. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses closed and millions lost their jobs, many people turned to online gaming and related digital careers to make ends meet. Some became livestreamers, esports athletes, content creators, game developers, virtual assistants for gaming communities, and tournament organizers. 

Others earned money through game coaching, online selling of gaming merchandise, and creating gaming content on social media. What started as a hobby became a lifeline for many families struggling during one of the country’s most difficult periods. 

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), millions of Filipinos were unemployed during the peak of the pandemic, which prompted many to look into other means of income. At the same time, the rise of digital platforms created options that were previously unavailable to regular folks. The expanding digital economy included gaming, which aided many people in their financial recovery. 

Personally, I believe people often forget that games are just tools. A tool can either help or harm depending on the person using it. The same can be said about social media, smartphones, or even the internet itself.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), although Gaming Disorder is recognized as a mental health condition, only a small percentage of gamers develop this disorder. This means that the majority of people who play online games do so without becoming addicted. That is why I consider that the real issue lies in discipline, moderation, and guidance—not in the games themselves. 

From my experience as technology has surrounded us, digital technology when used properly, may foster creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. Many online games promote cooperation, strategic thinking, communication, and fast decision-making—skills that are useful not only in gaming but also in daily life, the workplace, and education. Instead of outlawing these platforms, we ought to concentrate on educating people about responsible digital citizenship and sensible screen-time practices.

People who want to ban online games say that they keep students from studying, make them more likely to become addicted, and expose kids to harmful content. These issues need to be addressed, but banning is rarely the solution.

History has shown that banning something often pushes people to find ways around the rules instead of addressing the root cause. Poor time management, lack of parental supervision, and insufficient digital literacy cannot simply be solved by removing access to games.

Regulating rather than prohibiting is a better strategy. More successful strategies involve strengthening parental controls, putting in place age-appropriate limitations, fostering a balance between online and offline activities, and advancing digital literacy. Communities and schools may teach youth about ethical gaming while acknowledging its benefits. 

Blaming games for every social problem is like blaming a pen for writing a lie or blaming the internet for every false piece of information. The responsibility ultimately rests on the individual and the community that shapes their habits. 

After all, we cannot solve complex problems with simple bans. Personally, I believe that teaching responsibility will always be more powerful than removing choices.