Teach Vietnamese children digital skills instead of banning social media: opinion
Experts and parents in Vietnam are debating whether children should be banned from social media, but an environmental engineer argued that teaching digital skills is a more effective solution than outright restrictions, as children increasingly rely on online platforms for both learning and daily communication.
Many Vietnamese children easily access social media and online games anywhere. Photo: Thuy Chi
Environmental engineer Nguyen Ba Hoi argued that what children need is not a ban but adults willing to listen and guide them.
He said in today’s connected world, the key is not shutting digital doors but teaching kids how to walk through them safely.
Parents often feel conflicted.
One mother admitted she feared her child would fall behind in school without a phone, yet she was worried about the child's exposure to harmful content if she was allowed online.
The dilemma reflects a broader paradox: the same platforms adults want to restrict are now essential tools for learning.
Assignments are shared via Vietnamese messaging app Zalo, group discussions take place on Facebook, and study materials circulate through various messaging apps.
Cutting children off from these platforms could mean cutting them off from education.
Strict bans may also worsen inequality. Urban students with multiple devices can bypass restrictions, while those in rural areas that rely heavily on mainstream platforms for lessons risk exclusion.
Instead, he recommended shifting from 'protection by barriers' to 'protection by skills.'
He believed that teaching children to recognize scams, distinguish real from fake information, and manage screen time offers stronger safeguards than outright bans.
Families are encouraged to move from surveillance to dialogue, asking children what they are watching and discussing their views.
Schools should integrate digital literacy into curricula, covering how to respond to negative comments, protect personal data, and balance online time.
Policymakers, meanwhile, are urged to hold tech platforms accountable by enforcing child-specific accounts, stricter content controls, and limits on addictive algorithms.
Hoi emphasized that children today do not simply enter the digital world, they live in it.
A child who learns to use the Internet responsibly will be better prepared for a future where technology is inseparable from daily life.
Tuoi Tre News
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/teach-vietnamese-children-digital-skills-instead-of-banning-social-media-opinion-103260419154913115.htm