Please don't let children roam freely in the virtual world.

Students using mobile phones at a school in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG

Smartphones are increasingly present in people's lives, intruding into almost all relationships: family, friendships, and teacher-student interactions. While offering countless benefits, their negative aspects are undeniably impacting young people, especially students, in many ways.

Over my years of teaching, I've witnessed countless instances of students secretly using their phones during class. A screen suddenly lighting up under a desk or a desk shaking violently—how could that possibly distract the children from their lesson? Text messages, ringing calls, likes, shares, and comments relentlessly urge them to hide their hands, secretly scroll, swipe, tap, and press…

Challenges for teachers

Phones can aid learning, but how can teachers manage screens that are constantly flashing? Should they confiscate all phones and place them on the teacher's desk? That's not a good idea! Should they remind students to put their phones in their bags and limit their use when asked? It's impossible to convince all the children with just words.

Many teachers boldly state that it's not difficult to manage students' phone use in the classroom. This is probably true for classes with a stable intake of students in terms of academic ability and good behavior.

As for us, the middle school teachers who "mother" a huge number of rebellious teenagers, it's really tough to tell them to put their phones away neatly in their bags, or to obediently leave their "beloved phones" untouched during this time.

Children are growing up, curious about everything, and imitating both good and bad things. And the online world behind those glittering screens is a world full of excitement and temptations.

From online games to social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok, children can easily go astray if they lack the skills to become smart technology users and are not guided by adults.

Gaming addiction has become a major concern for many parents as children skip school to play games at arcades, neglecting their studies because they are completely absorbed in the virtual world of games. Living in a virtual world is a new worry as many children are engrossed in admiring, gazing at, and yearning for the glamorous, luxurious lives of others online.

"Internet gangsters" have suddenly become idols for many children; their crude language, vulgarity, swearing, and uncouth behavior unintentionally lead children to mistakenly believe in and encourage them.

School violence has been on the rise recently, with many incidents stemming from conflicts on social media, often stemming from a comment, a derogatory remark, or a malicious "like."

That is dangerous.

Tripartite alliance

The necessary skills for using technology intelligently still have many gaps. As adults, we are still addicted to social media, obsessed with online games, obsessed with living in a virtual world, and falling prey to countless fake news traps. How can we possibly create a comprehensive and effective "safety net" to protect children?!

The pitfalls and risks within mobile screens are countless, while software for controlling, filtering fake news, and blocking offensive and violent videos is still incomplete and lacks a solid protective shield for children.

Therefore, to avoid the heartbreaking consequences stemming from the irresponsible and unskilled use of social media, families, schools, and society must take decisive action.

The tripartite alliance will help control and prevent harmful and toxic information, purify the online environment to be clean and healthy; regularly organize training sessions on safe and effective social media use; pay more attention to children's "digital journey" online to promptly correct deviations, adjust wrong behaviors, and protect children from the "toxic fumes" of the virtual space.

Please don't let children have too much free rein with mobile phones.

Many opportunities, but also many worries.

Previously, children needed parental permission to get smartphones, and schools banned phones to ensure students focused on their studies.

Since Circular 32, which officially allows students to use phones in the classroom, came into effect, children have more opportunities to use phones, and the worries of parents and teachers will increase exponentially as they will be completely unable to control what children access online and how they are becoming engrossed in the virtual world.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xin-dung-tha-rong-tre-cho-the-gioi-ao-20240915221110318.htm