Stepping into the digital age with your child.

The era of Industry 4.0 has impacted every aspect of social life, bringing many conveniences but also raising many concerns. This reality demands that parents and schools possess the skills to connect with and support children as they navigate the digital age.

Stepping into the digital age with your child. Along with families, schools also play a crucial role in educating and preventing risks and temptations in the online environment.

Generation Z was born and raised surrounded by technology, so equipping them for the digital world naturally includes digital experiences. The technological age offers many new and exciting things, which can even be addictive if children lack the necessary skills. Therefore, parents and schools need to work together and closely monitor their children's experiences.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu from Dong Son ward (Thanh Hoa City) shared: "I have two daughters who are in middle and high school. At this age, many parents wonder whether they should let their children own their own smartphones or tablets. This concern stems from fears. They worry about their children wasting time, being affected by harmful and toxic information, the proliferation of obscene content on the internet, and increasingly sophisticated scams... However, if they don't let their children use smartphones, they worry about them not connecting with teachers and friends for learning; being slow to update their knowledge for studying, and being slow to update their knowledge about technology... Therefore, I regularly accompany, share, and teach my children how to face the dangers on the internet. I teach them not to publicly share personal information, especially not to provide or exchange sensitive images, videos , and content to avoid being exploited or scammed by malicious individuals..."

Another pressing issue in the digital age is how to use social media safely, effectively, and positively. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Xuan from Ham Rong ward (Thanh Hoa City) said: "I have two sons, both in high school. Recently, there have been many instances of young people engaging in online aggression through comments and posts, leading to conflicts and physical altercations. To prevent this, I often talk to my sons, teaching them to think carefully before commenting, sharing, or posting any information, and to avoid posting sensitive or controversial content. Because many people see these posts online, my sons might be scrutinized, judged, or subjected to negative comments, which could make them feel sad or scared. Besides, information posted on social media isn't always accurate. There's a lot of misinformation and incitement against the State being spread online." Sharing false information without proper verification can affect public perception, aid malicious actors in spreading fake news, and even violate the law.

Social media is virtual, but its consequences are real. Therefore, parents should manage their children by setting time limits for internet use according to age; learning with their children online; regularly discussing the risks with their children and equipping them with self-protection skills in the online environment... In addition, parents should also set a good example when using social media, spend time playing and talking with their children; make timely and appropriate adjustments when they see signs of their children becoming overly addicted to internet use or gaming; enroll their children in life skills courses and extracurricular activities to help them always have more useful social skills...

In addition, along with families, schools also play a crucial role in educating, guiding, and preventing risks and temptations in the online environment, equipping children with the necessary knowledge and skills for using the internet, so that they become smart citizens in the digital age.

Text and photos: Linh Huong

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