Undeniably, cyberspace brings certain benefits; however, alongside the positive aspects, the internet and social networks also harbor many unpredictable risks and pitfalls if children lack self-protection skills and guidance from families, schools, and society.

Amidst the strong flow of digital transformation, children’s access to the internet and digital devices is becoming increasingly common, especially in school and home environments. In Điện Biên province, students in many schools have been introduced to electronic lectures, online learning, and the exploitation of digital resources for studying. However, the disparity in infrastructure conditions and digital skills between areas makes the work of guiding and protecting children in the online environment even more crucial.

“Proactively identifying the dangers in cyberspace, the school has integrated digital skills education and safe internet usage skills into teaching and extracurricular activities. We guide students on how to recognize positive information, avoid accessing inappropriate content, and coordinate with parents to manage students’ use of smart devices right at home,” Dương Tiến Công, Principal of Mường Nhé Semi-boarding Ethnic Minority Secondary School (Mường Nhé commune).

At Bản Bua Semi-boarding Ethnic Minority Primary School in Búng Lao commune, digital skills education is appropriately integrated according to the students’ ages. Right from the early grades, children are familiarized with basic internet usage rules such as not sharing personal information, not clicking on strange links, and knowing to seek help from teachers and parents when encountering unusual situations online.

“In highland areas, many parents have limited technological skills, leading to difficulties in supervising and guiding their children to use the internet safely. Meanwhile, children quickly adapt to digital devices but lack the ability to identify risks and are easily influenced by toxic information or enticing behaviors on social networks. Therefore, the school identifies digital skills education as a regular task in the teaching process. The school intensifies integration into subjects, organizes experiential activities, and coordinates closely with parents to jointly create a safe and healthy internet usage environment for students,” Vũ Thị Thoan, Principal of Bản Bua Semi-boarding Ethnic Minority Primary School.

Along with educational activities in the school environment, all levels, sectors, and localities in the province are currently strengthening many solutions to protect, care for, and educate children in the context of digital transformation. Many programs to propagate and disseminate safe internet usage skills have been deployed, gradually helping children form the habit of controlled internet use, knowing how to select appropriate information, and proactively seeking support when encountering risky situations.

In Na Sang commune, the 2026 “Children’s Forum” with the participation of a large number of local students provided an open exchange space where they could directly express their thoughts and aspirations regarding studying and playing, as well as issues related to safety in their living environment and cyberspace. The children’s questions and proposals were listened to, discussed, and answered by commune leaders and relevant agencies.

“The forum is a very practical activity, an opportunity for children to raise their voices and express their thoughts and desires directly related to their studying and daily lives. Through the opinions and recommendations at the forum, we will absorb and synthesize them to formulate more appropriate solutions in the care, protection, and education of local children. Especially in the current context, equipping children with safety skills in the online environment is a matter of concern for the locality to help them use the internet in a healthy, safe, and effective manner,” Nguyễn Võ Nam, Vice Chairman of the Na Sang commune People’s Committee.

In 2026, the Action Month for Children features the theme “Happy and safe children taking firm steps in the digital age”. At the recent launching ceremony co-organized by the Điện Biên provincial People’s Committee and World Vision Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Minh Phú emphasized that amidst the strong digital transformation, children have many opportunities to access knowledge, develop skills, and expand their connectivity. However, along with this are new risks in the online environment such as toxic information, cyberbullying, online exploitation, and negative impacts on children’s psychology and personality. Therefore, the care, education, and protection of children need to be innovated to suit the requirements of the digital age.

During the Action Month for Children, along with continuing to implement child protection solutions; strengthening propaganda, and educating children on life skills, digital skills, and safe internet usage skills will strongly promote the roles of families, schools, and society in guiding, supervising, and accompanying children when participating in the online environment. At the same time, mobilizing resources to care for children in difficult circumstances, children in remote and isolated areas, and ethnic minority areas will create conditions for all children to develop comprehensively in a safe and healthy environment.