Risks go beyond harmful content
Digital technology has become an indispensable part of social life and has a direct impact on children. They use it to study, entertain themselves, connect with friends, seek information and express themselves in the digital environment. However, these opportunities also come with risks, including online scams, cyberbullying, personal data breaches, AI-generated fake images, grooming and abuse.
At the launch of the “No One Alone 2026” campaign last October, Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director of the Department of Cybersecurity under the Ministry of Public Security, said online threats were becoming increasingly diverse. Harm that begins on a phone screen can have long-term consequences for children's mental health, education and development.
According to Colonel Quan, child protection must shift from dealing with the consequences of online harm to proactive prevention, early detection and timely intervention. Children should not simply be warned about dangers or told to stay away from the digital world. Instead, they need the knowledge and skills to recognise risks, respond appropriately and seek help when necessary.
When adults make decisions about children's use of mobile phones, social media or AI tools, children's opinions must also be heard and taken seriously. Imposing bans without explanation or discussion can lead to resentment and resistance. Children may continue using these platforms secretly and hesitate to report problems for fear of being blamed.
Children's right to participate should therefore be incorporated into online protection measures. They need age-appropriate information about online safety, opportunities to express their views and assurance that adults will consider their opinions. This will also help ensure that protective measures reflect children's actual needs and experiences.
Families and schools must encourage children to speak up
Viet Nam has established a legal framework to protect children online. The Law on Information Technology sets out the responsibilities of the State, society, schools, families and service providers in preventing the negative effects of online information. The 2016 Law on Children also stipulates children's rights, including access to age-appropriate information and participation in matters concerning them.
The Government's Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision and use of internet services and online information also strengthens the regulation of social media accounts, the handling of violating content and mechanisms relating to child users.
Dr and lawyer Dang Van Cuong, a member of the Executive Committee of the Viet Nam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights, said legal provisions could only be effective if strictly enforced through coordination among regulatory agencies, businesses, families and schools. Communication efforts should be strengthened to translate legal provisions into public awareness and action, alongside effective implementation mechanisms.
An important requirement is to ensure safety from the design stage of platforms used by children. Technology should be capable of identifying content that incites violence, abuse, bullying and threats, while providing accessible reporting mechanisms, prompt responses and age-appropriate warnings.
Authorities cannot rely solely on removing violating content after incidents have occurred. The way algorithms distribute and recommend content also requires attention, as children may repeatedly encounter inappropriate material through these mechanisms.
According to Dang Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights and former Director General of the Department of Children, protecting children online must go hand in hand with improvements to policies and legislation and greater involvement from social organisations. Above all, children's voices must be heard and respected, and they must be given opportunities to participate in decisions affecting them.
Rather than simply imposing bans, the focus should be on management, guidance and equipping children with the skills to participate in the digital world knowledgeably and responsibly. Providing children and adolescents with knowledge, skills, digital literacy and a responsible approach to technology, while improving parents' and teachers' ability to support them, is a form of “digital vaccine” for children.
Responsibility for protecting children online cannot rest entirely with parents or the children themselves. The State must improve policies and legislation, while businesses must take responsibility for the safety of their platforms, the content they provide and the protection tools available to younger users.
Within families, parents should accompany their children, learn about the platforms they use and agree on rules governing screen time and device use. Monitoring should be age-appropriate, transparent and respectful of children's privacy, rather than involving absolute control over every message and conversation.
Schools should strengthen digital literacy education, emotional self-regulation skills and children's ability to recognise grooming, manipulation and cyberbullying. Students should also have access to safe channels through which they can report problems without fear of judgement or discrimination.
When signs of unusual behaviour are detected, teachers, school counsellors and parents should work together to provide support while safeguarding children's privacy and best interests. Families, organisations and individuals can contact the National Child Protection Hotline at 111, operated by the Department of Mothers and Children under the Ministry of Health, or relevant authorities to help protect children online.
