Children during the summer tend to entertain themselves with electronic devices at home instead of going out. The tendency has been growing since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

“In the last two years of the pandemic, my son accessed the internet all day long. He had official lessons in the morning, extra classes in the afternoon, and needed to discuss home exercises with classmates in the evening. I couldn’t control his time of access to the internet,” said N.K.T, a parent in Hanoi.

Urban parents understand the dark side of the internet. They are aware of the consequences to be caused by early access to internet. However, they cannot keep their children away from electronic devices. After the pandemic was contained, most children at secondary and high schools in Hanoi, Hai Phong and HCM City own internet access devices of their own.

Last summer, T registered her son for a swimming course to decrease the amount of time he spent using electronic devices.

“He used the tablet less, but still spent a lot of time on electronic devices. The thing he did after returning home from swimming class was turn on the laptop and surf on the internet,” T said.

Analysts say many parents are too busy with their work and leave children at home with computers so the children can "have something to keep busy".

Meanwhile, other parents apply extreme measures by prohibiting children from using electronic devices. However, analysts warn that this may do more harm than good because it erodes children’s confidence. Children try to escape control of parents and not share information with parents.

Experts said internet users need safety and privacy when they are in online activities. However, there is a fine line between child protection and child privacy infringement. 

The advice from experts is that parents need to have a frank conversation with children before controlling the children’s time on the internet. 

VNISA (Vietnam Information Security Association) said an alliance or club of units providing online information safety solutions will be established by VNISA and World Vision with an aim to develop technological solutions to protect children and help them interact creatively and safely online.

Van Anh