By Lane Afable, News Editor
Sen. Risa Hontiveros is pushing for stricter accountability among digital gaming platforms such as Roblox following alarming reports of online influence on minors who allegedly carried out acts of violence.
Hontiveros raised concerns over the potential risks posed by unregulated digital spaces and the need for stronger safeguards to protect young Filipinos.
“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,” the senator said during the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
She noted that online gaming platforms “have evolved into powerful social environments where children interact, communicate, and, unfortunately, can also be harmed.”
“We see how these spaces are being exploited to abuse our children. These platforms for play may be exploited for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, for grooming, for extortion, and even for the spread of violent and extremist ideas,” Hontiveros said in mix Filipino and English.
She cited as an example the recent case of seven youths in Laguna who were influenced by online games to commit acts of violence. “These instances remind us that these risks are real, immediate, and deeply concerning,” she added.
Hontiveros likewise raised concerns over the misuse of internet intermediaries such as Facebook, where age-verified accounts are reportedly being bought and sold. She warned that minors may use these accounts to access content intended for adults, while some adult users may seek accounts verified for younger age groups, increasing the risk of exploitation.
Without clear regulation, the senator said these practices could allow such accounts to fall into the hands of “bad actors.” She stressed that the responsibility for child safety should not rest solely on parents and children, urging stronger accountability from gaming platforms and other digital intermediaries, alongside the establishment of clear, rights-based standards that uphold both protection and dignity for Filipino children.
In response, Roblox Vice President and Global Head of Public Policy Nicky Jackson Colaco said the company is set to implement a “safety-by-default” approach as part of a global overhaul of its platform.
Colaco said the company will roll out a tiered system by early June, introducing “Roblox Kids” accounts for users aged 5 to 8 with chat disabled and access limited to vetted content, and “Roblox Select” accounts for ages 9 to 15 with filtered, age-restricted communication features. She added that the updates will include enhanced parental controls and AI-driven moderation, which she said are aimed at improving child safety and setting higher standards for platform accountability.
