A recent survey by the Institute for Research on Sustainable Development Management reveals that nearly 64% of Vietnamese children surveyed learn online safety skills and knowledge through social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

During the seminar "Collaboration Between Government Agencies, Organizations, and Enterprises in Protecting Children Online," Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Children under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA), highlighted that efforts have been made to establish reliable channels for children and families to report and receive support for online safety issues.

Nga emphasized that 2024 has seen significant advancements compared to previous years, particularly in the collaboration between key organizations such as the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (A05) of the Ministry of Public Security, the Information Security Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Department of Children under MOLISA. These entities have jointly organized nationwide training sessions for over 24,000 individuals on child protection in the digital environment.

“We now have networks like the Child Protection Emergency Response Network and the Vietnam Children's Cyber Protection Club. However, moving forward, regular coordination and more frequent briefings will be critical,” Nga stated.

According to Tran Van Anh, Deputy Director of the Institute for Research on Sustainable Development Management (MSD), while children’s rights have been promoted across various domains, including families, schools, communities, and the internet, participation remains uneven and faces significant limitations.

The MSD survey, Children’s Voices in Vietnam, highlights that alongside traditional environments, the digital sphere is becoming increasingly vital in children's lives.

Technology Usage Statistics:
83.9% of surveyed children use smartphones.
86.1% use social media platforms.
97% use smartphones for at least one hour daily, with nearly 27% spending over five hours.
Entertainment is the primary reason for using smartphones (86%), followed by learning (75%), information-seeking (66%), and social interaction (57%).

One positive finding is that many children have been exposed to vital online safety lessons. Over 70% of surveyed children have learned skills such as preventing risks on social media, understanding online dangers, and recognizing and avoiding sexual exploitation online. However, bullying prevention had the lowest coverage, at 63.4%.

Despite these encouraging numbers, few children feel fully confident about their knowledge and skills in handling online risks. This gap underscores potential safety concerns when children navigate the internet.

The survey reveals that social media is the most popular channel for children to learn online safety skills, even surpassing family, school, and community channels.

“While this is a positive trend, it also involves risks due to children’s incomplete understanding and the need to verify the accuracy of information found on social media,” said MSD experts.

To address these challenges, MSD recommends strengthening alternative information sources, particularly schools, which currently play a limited role. Only 56% of surveyed children reported learning online safety skills from school.

Parents also need to improve their knowledge of cybersecurity to better guide and support their children online. More than half of the children surveyed stated they learn online safety skills from their parents.

Van Anh