Advantages and risks

During the summer break, Nguyễn Thùy Trang (16 years old), a resident of Thanh Bình ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, frequently uses social media. Trang shares that she often visits TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms. Not only does she watch information, images, and videos, but she also spends time chatting on Messenger and Zalo. Besides her close friends, Trang also connects with new people online. To improve her foreign language skills, she uses apps to learn English while browsing Facebook, playing TikTok, and chatting with friends.

Nguyễn Thị Dung, Trang’s mother, shares: “When using the internet, my child has learned to take advantage of opportunities to search for information and knowledge on any topic through Google or ChatGPT. She watches educational videos, science documentaries, and participates in online language courses. The internet is also a great environment for connecting, communicating, and sharing, which has greatly supported her in both studying and daily life.”

During this summer, Phạm Thị Phương’s house, in Noong Bua ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, was full of laughter as her grandchildren came home for the break. However, despite the joy of family reunions, Mrs. Phương is quietly concerned. In her 60s, she worries about her grandchildren’s frequent use of smartphones and watching TV every day.

Phương said: “During the summer break, the kids often watch TV and use their phones. On YouTube, there are many videos. Some are very good and educational, but there are also many pointless, useless videos that are not suitable for children and do not reflect real-life situations. I worry that these videos might affect the children’s mindset.”

In today’s reality, children can easily enter the digital world with just a smartphone or TV connected to the internet. With a few taps on the screen, they can access endless amounts of information, entertainment programs, and games. For many children, using the internet has become a daily habit. As a teacher, Trần Thị Mai Anh, a teacher at Điện Biên Phủ city High School, has noticed the values the internet brings to students in their learning, recreation, and self-development.

She shared: “In my observation, students who are familiar with using the internet and smartphones are often quicker, more creative in seeking information to serve their studies; they also improve their judgment, analysis, and decision-making skills. However, at this age, children are very curious, and easy access to social media and online games also affects their studies. Therefore, it is essential to guide them on how to use the internet and social media properly.”

Protecting children in the digital world

According to a report by the Department of Child Affairs under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, over 89% of children aged 10 and older in Vietnam have access to the internet. Over 60% of them use it daily. Nguyễn Thị Cung, Deputy Head of the Population - Children Office at the provincial Department of Health, stated: “Excessive exposure to the online environment poses many risks for children. Harmful information and online scams are lurking dangers, and most children do not have the necessary skills to protect themselves while engaging in online activities. This creates many challenges for families, schools, and government agencies in combating harmful information and protecting children in the online environment.”

To protect children in the digital world, the provincial People’s Committee has directed various levels and sectors to organize numerous activities to ensure better implementation of children’s rights, especially the right to participate in children’s issues and the right to be protected from harm in the digital world. Additionally, it has promoted raising awareness among organizations, businesses, schools, and families about the positive and negative impacts of digital technology on children’s development. This includes promoting the dissemination of safe, healthy digital usage knowledge, teaching skills to protect children online, and providing access to child protection services through the national child protection hotline 111.

After learning about child protection in the online environment, Hoàng Thị Hồng Trang, from Nam Thanh ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, chose not to ban her children from using the internet. Instead, she actively collaborates with them by helping them balance their time online and teaching them self-protection skills when using the internet, especially during the summer when children have more free time. Trang frequently talks to her children about the benefits of the internet and guides them toward suitable, age-appropriate websites for learning. She encourages her children to participate in social activities and sports with their friends, fostering family bonding, reducing screen time, and detecting any irregularities in their online behavior to intervene promptly and prevent negative outcomes.

Protecting children in the digital world is not only the responsibility of families or the local government, but of society as a whole. With the collective effort of the community, the close cooperation between families, schools, and society, and proactive involvement from the children themselves, they will be able to grow up healthy and safe in the digital environment.