As the development and use of technology is rapidly advancing, it is becoming increasingly popular for parents to let their children use electronic devices at an early age. Unfortunately, most of the time, children do not have the skills to protect themselves in cyberspace.
A survey conducted last year on parents’ opinions regarding online safety revealed that the average age of Vietnamese children first owning a mobile phone is nine years old. However, the average age at which children are informed about information security in cyberspace is 13 years old. This means that there are about four years that children interact online without being warned about potential risks and how to deal with them.
In 2020, the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD) and Save the Children conducted a nationwide survey that showed that children often use the Internet for learning (83%), entertainment (71%), making friends (71%), sharing information (23%), shopping (30%) and live streaming (6.3%). It was reported that 40% of children feel unsafe when using the Internet. More than 70% of children have had unwanted experiences such as personal information disclosure, harassing texts, and cyberbullying.
The risks become more diverse and unpredictable and do not spare anyone. Therefore, children need to be educated and equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves and take advantage of technology. In 2021, the Prime Minister approved Decision No 830, under which the “Protecting and Supporting Children to Interact Healthy and Creatively in Cyberspace” programme for the 2021-2025 period was launched.
The Deputy Head of the Information Security Department, Tran Dang Khoa, stressed that digital technology products in Vietnam must be created and applied to successfully implement the programme.
The objective of the programme is to safeguard children against online risks and empower them with digital literacy while fostering a healthy online environment. It also seeks to develop innovative Vietnamese products and applications that enable children to learn, connect, and enjoy recreational activities online.
It is the first national one in Vietnam for child protection on the Internet. Under the programme, a network to rescue and protect children on digital platforms was created. It seeks to enhance public awareness, share valuable experiences, and receive and handle reports from the community about child abuse on the Internet.
The programme outlines six principles that parents and teachers must follow to assist children in interacting with digital media. They consist of recognising a child’s right to access and use the Internet, helping children use the Internet safely as soon as possible; respecting the child’s privacy; understanding the psychology and development of children to accompany them; guiding children to access support when needed; and being available when the child is in need.
The General Director of Smart Cyber Security, Ngo Tuan Anh, said that when schools equip computer rooms with an Internet connection according to regulations, the big challenge is finding and equipping tools to help monitor and manage students. There are technology solutions that can help schools manage students on the internet conveniently, he said. The products apply the cloud computing model, allowing schools to deploy and easily use them at a reasonable monthly cost quickly. A representative of the Vietnam Cybersecurity Emergency Response Teams/Coordination Centre (VNCERT/CC) named three major technologies: protection technologies on operating systems, browsers, and applications; child protection devices and applications on terminals; the applications that support reflections and checking.
