Keeping children safe online

ĐBP - With the rapid development of digital technology, the online space has become a familiar environment for children to learn, play, and communicate. From online learning and information searches to entertainment on social media platforms, the internet offers children many opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills. However, along with these benefits come risks, including exposure to harmful content, exploitation, or online abuse.

Currently, it is common for children in many households to use smartphones or televisions to watch cartoons, study online, or play digital games.

Hoàng Thị Hồng Trang from Điện Biên Phủ ward shared: “My family has two children, one in grade six and one five years old. They love watching videos and playing games on the phone. I see that the internet provides many benefits, but without supervision, it also carries risks. So I regularly spend time guiding them to use devices responsibly, choose appropriate content, and talk to them about how to protect themselves on social media.”

Aware of these risks, provincial authorities have actively implemented measures to protect and support children online. The Department of Health has researched and developed programs, materials, and campaigns to promote children’s rights and responsibilities, and to prevent violence and sexual abuse. In coordination with local agencies, it has strengthened communication campaigns targeting children and caregivers, offering counseling and education for parents on child protection, abuse prevention, improving family communication, and fostering healthy behaviors and emotions in children.

Hoàng Thị Hồng Trang’s family in Điện Biên Phủ ward guides their children in searching for information safely online.

The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has intensified inspections and monitoring of media activities, publications, and online content, especially at social media and internet service points near schools. It actively promotes awareness, detects, and handles online acts that exploit or harm children, while receiving reports on abusive images, videos, or content.

Additionally, educational institutions across the province have stepped up efforts to raise awareness and provide training on safe and responsible social media use for students. Schools integrate child protection education into curricula and extracurricular activities, and implement technical measures to monitor and filter illegal or age-inappropriate content.

Currently, 100% of educational institutions have created sections, videos, and images to educate students through social media, websites, emails, and text messages. Digital skills education is delivered through forums and school or community communication sessions, focusing on recognizing abuse, protecting personal information, and practicing respectful online behavior. Communication channels between schools, students, and families, via email, messages, and Zalo, allow timely monitoring of students’ thoughts and handling arising issues.

Life skills lessons at Thanh Bình Kindergarten are lively and engaging. Children enthusiastically observe illustrations on screens, learning to identify and respond to unsafe online situations through relatable, easy-to-understand stories.

Lê Thị Tâm, Principal of Thanh Bình Kindergarten, said: “Protecting children online is a key responsibility. The school focuses on educating and safeguarding children against internet risks. We work closely with parents to guide children in using technology safely and age-appropriately. Teachers incorporate life skills education and lessons on identifying and avoiding harmful content into daily activities. We also organize specialized sessions on abuse prevention and online child protection for teachers, contributing to a safe and healthy digital environment for children from an early age.”

Local media regularly promotes the child protection law, related regulations, and programs supporting safe, creative online interactions. Youth and student organizations at all levels implement campaigns and follow central and provincial policies on educating and protecting children online.

Nguyễn Châu Sơn, Head of the Population and Child Department (Department of Health), said: “As of June 2025, the province has more than 191,000 children under 16. to protect and support safe online interactions, authorities must continue promoting legal education to spread positive content and build a clean, child-friendly online space. At the same time, parents and teachers need training to strengthen child protection skills. Enhancing children’s digital literacy will help them recognize risks, respond safely, and handle online dangers, while early detection and prevention of harmful content contribute to a healthy digital environment and support children’s comprehensive development in the digital age.”

Minh Thảo
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Ensuring food safety in school meals to protect students’ health

    Ensuring food safety in school meals to protect students’ health

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - School meals play a vital role in students’ physical and mental development. Aware of this, the Điện Biên provincial Department of Education and Training has tightened control over food supplies, organized scientific and safe food preparation at collective kitchens, and ensured adequate nutrition to prevent food safety risks and create a healthy, secure learning environment for students.
  • 'OCOP products become Tết gifts

    OCOP products become Tết gifts

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - As the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tết) approaches, the surge in demand for gifts has sparked a vibrant market. In a notable shift from previous years, where Tết baskets were typically a combination of imported sweets, liquors, and soft drinks, local OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items have successfully asserted their position as the top choice for consumers. It seems the holiday spirit is getting a local makeover, and frankly, it is about time.
  • 'Young man spreading love

    Young man spreading love

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In the rush of modern life, there are still young individuals who quietly choose a slower pace to think deeply and act for the community through persistent small deeds and large-scale movements.
  • 'Urgent and decisive implementation of tasks

    Urgent and decisive implementation of tasks

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The 15th Congress of the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term has identified a high-reaching economic growth target of 10–11%, with the year 2026 specifically striving to surpass the 11% mark.
  • 'Sustainable vegetable zones take shape in Điện Biên

    Sustainable vegetable zones take shape in Điện Biên

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - In recent years, as part of the agricultural restructuring program aimed at developing market-oriented agriculture, increasing added value and improving sustainability, Điện Biên province has focused on implementing a wide range of coordinated measures, with priority given to the development of concentrated vegetable production areas in localities with favorable natural conditions, soil and climate.
  • 'Nutrition today, stature tomorrow

    Nutrition today, stature tomorrow

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Proper nutrition plays a vital role for children from their very first years of life and throughout their journey into adulthood. The quality of nutrition determines health, physical strength, mental capacity, and the ability to learn and work in the future.
  • 'Sín Thầu improves quality of party cell meetings

    Sín Thầu improves quality of party cell meetings

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The quality of party cell meetings is considered a yardstick for the effectiveness of party building at the grassroots level. Realizing this, the Sín Thầu commune Party Committee has focused on leading and directing the synchronous implementation of many solutions to improve this quality.
  • 'Bringing new hope to ethnic minority areas

    Bringing new hope to ethnic minority areas

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, paved roads now reach commune centres, livelihood models are proving effective, rural workers have access to more jobs, and both the material and spiritual well-being of ethnic minority people has steadily improved. These are tangible outcomes of the coordinated implementation of the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period across the province.
  • '“The station is home, the border is homeland”

    “The station is home, the border is homeland”

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Managing and protecting more than 40km of the border with Laos across a vast area with fragmented terrain where residents still face significant hardships, the officers and soldiers of the Mường Nhé Border Post persist in staying close to the people and the land.
  • 'Creating tourism attraction from traditional cuisine

    Creating tourism attraction from traditional cuisine

    TRAVEL -
    ĐBP - With 19 ethnic groups living together, culinary culture is considered a rich and valuable “soft resource” of Điện Biên province. From rustic ingredients of the mountains and forests to community meals, cuisine is gradually becoming a vivid connecting thread between cultural heritage and tourism development, which opens a new direction for community tourism in Điện Biên at the present stage.