SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for stronger accountability measures among digital gaming platforms, including Roblox, amid reports linking online influence to violent behavior among minors—raising urgent concerns over the safety and well-being of Filipino youth and students.

Speaking during a Senate hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Hontiveros emphasized that the growing role of online platforms in young people’s daily lives requires stricter safeguards and oversight.

“The central issue before us today is not only the presence of harm in online spaces, but the systems that allow such harm to persist and spread,” she said.

The senator noted that platforms originally designed for entertainment and social interaction have evolved into powerful digital environments where children learn, communicate, and form relationships—making them highly influential in shaping behavior, especially among students.

However, she warned that these same spaces are increasingly being exploited for harmful activities such as online sexual abuse, grooming, extortion, and the spread of violent or extremist content.

Hontiveros cited a recent case in Laguna involving seven individuals who allegedly carried out acts of violence after being influenced by online games, underscoring what she described as real and immediate risks facing today’s youth.

Beyond gaming platforms, the lawmaker also raised alarm over the misuse of social media intermediaries like Facebook, where age-verified accounts are reportedly being bought and sold. She said this practice exposes minors to inappropriate content and increases the risk of exploitation, while also allowing adults to pose as younger users.

“These gaps in regulation put our children—especially students who rely heavily on digital platforms for both learning and recreation—at greater risk,” Hontiveros said.

She stressed that ensuring online safety should not fall solely on parents and children, calling instead for shared responsibility that includes stricter enforcement and clearer, rights-based standards from technology companies.

In response, Roblox Vice President and Global Head of Public Policy Nicky Jackson Colaco said the company is preparing to implement a “safety-by-default” approach aimed at better protecting young users.

The initiative includes a tiered account system set for rollout by early June, introducing Roblox Kids accounts for children aged 5 to 8 with chat functions disabled and access limited to vetted content, and Roblox Select accounts for users aged 9 to 15 featuring filtered and age-appropriate communication tools.

Colaco added that enhanced parental controls and artificial intelligence-driven moderation systems will also be introduced to strengthen protections for minors.

Hontiveros said that while these measures are a step in the right direction, sustained vigilance, stronger policies, and greater accountability across digital platforms remain crucial to ensuring that online spaces support—not endanger—the development and welfare of young Filipinos.