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| Young people are excited to play badminton - a sport that not only improves health but also helps to enhance connection and communication skills. Photo: L.Duy |
When the screen becomes the "living environment" of young people
According to statistics from DataReportal Organization in 2024, up to 92% of internet users are in the age group
16-24 year olds in Vietnam access social media daily, of which more than 70% of online time is spent watching short videos on platforms such as: TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts. This is the age group with the highest and most frequent digital content consumption, especially during the summer break.
This situation is common, especially among students - people who have free time during the summer but lack direction in their activities.
Ng. Th. M., an 11th grader (living in Binh Da ward, Bien Hoa city), said: “I go on TikTok every day, and every time I watch, an hour passes by without me realizing it. Many short videos are very engaging, after watching one video, another one automatically appears. There are days when I eat while watching, and then watch until late at night before going to bed.”
Not only stopping at short videos, many young people also spend most of their time on online games, group chats and following social networks. As Ms. Tran Quynh Nhu (23 years old, living in Trang Dai ward, Bien Hoa city) shared: “I often stay up late to play games with friends or text via apps. During the day, I just lie down and hug my phone, too lazy to leave the room. When I meet strangers in real life, I am also shy to talk, I do not feel comfortable as when interacting through the screen”.
Dr. Cao Thi Huyen, a psychology lecturer at Dong Nai University, shared that watching too many short videos can cause many psychological problems such as: reduced concentration, intellectual decline and affecting mental health. Short videos can create a feeling of addiction, causing users to lose focus on other activities and reduce the ability to process information.
In addition, the lack of participation in physical activities, sports or community connections also contributes to the increasingly narrowing of young people's real lives. Instead of spending time playing outdoors, many children choose to stay indoors, using electronic devices continuously for many hours. This not only affects eyesight and sitting posture, but also reduces physical strength, increases the risk of obesity, sleep disorders and imbalances in daily life.
Many parents admit that their children are almost always on their phones, rarely interact with their families, and are no longer interested in group activities. This situation is causing many young people to gradually lose their communication skills, lack confidence, easily fall into a state of isolation, and even show signs of anxiety and depression. Education experts warn that if they do not change their living habits soon, young people will face the risk of comprehensive physical and mental decline during an important stage of development.
Ms. Lai Thi Ngoc Duyen, lecturer of the Faculty of Primary and Preschool Education, Dong Nai University, recommends that students and teenagers should consider physical training and social communication as an essential part of the process of growing up. In addition to studying, young people need to participate in extracurricular activities, sports, volunteering, etc. to develop soft skills, expand relationships and reduce dependence on technology devices in daily life.
"Rescue" yourself from the virtual world
Dr. Cao Thi Huyen believes that protecting young people from the negative impacts of social networks is not only the responsibility of schools, but also an important task of families. To reduce the time teenagers and children spend in front of screens, parents need to proactively create conditions for their children to participate in useful activities such as reading, playing sports, learning new skills or attending extracurricular classes. These activities not only help children develop life skills, but also practice patience, improve physical strength and enhance mental health.
In addition, age-appropriate physical activities such as swimming, badminton, basketball, cycling, jogging, etc. not only help children increase their resistance and develop their musculoskeletal system, but are also effective ways to relieve stress, improve sleep and maintain a positive mental state. If these activities are maintained regularly, they will form scientific living habits in children, help reduce the risk of dependence on the virtual world and gradually guide children to a more active and proactive lifestyle in learning and socializing.
Sharing the same opinion, Master Lai Thi Ngoc Duyen, lecturer at the Faculty of Primary and Preschool Education at Dong Nai University, said that for young children and preschool age, the guiding role of parents is a key factor.
“Parents need to accompany their children in choosing entertainment content, limiting the time spent using electronic devices appropriately; at the same time, increase practical experiences such as playing with children, doing housework with children, participating in interactive games instead of leaving children alone with phones or TVs.”
Le Duy
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202506/gioi-tre-can-thoat-khoi-man-hinh-de-van-dong-trong-dip-he-ad50e16/
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