Protecting children in the digital environment.

Psychologist Vu Thu Ha, from the Vietnam Institute for Psychological Research, Training and Intervention, shared: "We often say that children are well-behaved at home. However, in the digital age, children at home are not necessarily safe, because there is a vast space in social media that parents may not yet have access to."

A survey also revealed that access to social media at a very young age is quite common in our country. Children as young as 5 to 8 years old already know how to access social media, and many have their own accounts. This further increases the risk of negative influence as they are not yet equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to protect themselves.

In Vietnam, Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP, effective from December 25, 2024, stipulates that individuals under 16 years of age are not permitted to register social media accounts independently. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising and managing the content children access, post, and share on social media.

In reality, the number of children violating the law due to the influence of social media is on the rise. Many teenagers imitate harmful and offensive videos, leading to traffic violations, the use of weapons to resolve conflicts, and even being lured by criminals into the illegal trafficking and sale of prohibited substances. This development creates an urgent need for authorities to take more decisive action.

For management policies to be truly effective, a comprehensive approach involving policy development, communication, education , and technical support is needed, especially since many parents lack sufficient knowledge, skills, and familiarity with tools for protecting children in the digital environment.

Clearly, the role of the "four-way partnership" comprising the State, technology companies, schools, and parents is crucial. The State establishes a clear legal framework in cyberspace, requiring cross-border platforms to comply with regulations protecting Vietnamese children. Platforms need to be responsible for age control, content monitoring, and data protection according to national standards.

Schools need to incorporate digital literacy education into their curricula. Parents need training and support to guide their children in the digital environment. Tools that help parents control their children's online content and time should be more widely available and easier to use. Social media can be a useful tool, but only when used responsibly and safely.