Solon wants to prohibit minors from playing ‘mature-rated’ video games

A lawmaker wants to prohibit minors from accessing "mature-rated games," which he said are detrimental to their well-being as they are growing up.

In House Resolution 342, 1-SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta proposes that the House Committee on Welfare of Children conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the "adverse effects of character-based video games on children."

The committee should also prescribe countermeasures to discourage children from playing character-based video games.

Citing a recent study, Marcoleta said that teenagers who play "risk-glorifiying, character-based video games" are more susceptible to act aggressively, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in unprotected sex.

"Character-based video games let people practice being someone else, and practicing at being a character who is an antisocial deviant may have broad behavioral consequences for kids," Marcoleta quoted the study.

At the same time, the study also suggests that teenage players may develop values similar to their deviant game characters and are more likely to act in dangerous ways other done how the characters act.

"No one under 18 should have access to mature-rated games as they were associated with changes in a wide range of high-risk behaviors," Marcoleta said.

"The Committee on Welfare of Children should prescribe countermeasures in order to curb, if not discourage youngsters from engaging in such character-based video games," he added. — BM, GMA News