Vietnamese families increasingly connect online, even during Tet: survey

Digitalization is making family communication more convenient and flexible than ever, and the trend is especially visible during Tet, including this year’s holiday, which began on Tuesday, as both in-person gatherings and shared online activities increase.

According to a recent survey by Kaspersky, a Russia-based cybersecurity company, 97 percent of respondents use digital platforms to interact with family members.

Among them, 86 percent communicate regularly through messaging apps, 58 percent stay in touch via video calls, and 44 percent share online streaming accounts.

Online interaction has become an integral part of everyday family life.

As relatives spend more time together, whether face to face or remotely connected, digital platforms increasingly serve as hubs for daily conversations, shared entertainment, and exchanges that help bridge generational gaps.

Globally, frequent messaging through apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Viber remains the most common way people stay in touch with loved ones.

The practice is especially widespread among users aged 35 to 54, with 89 percent identifying it as their primary form of communication.

Video calls are less common, used by 58 percent of survey participants.

Family group chats become particularly active during Tet, as members share daily updates, festive greetings, and holiday moments through popular platforms like Zalo and Messenger.

Messaging apps have become the primary channel for staying in touch, while video calls are typically reserved for times when relatives cannot meet in person rather than used for everyday interaction.

Another common form of online engagement is sharing social media posts and memes, humorous or satirical ideas, images, videos, or phrases that spread rapidly online.

Globally, 53 percent of respondents share such content through social media or messaging apps, with people aged 18 to 34 leading the trend at 58 percent.

This type of exchange also becomes more common during Tet, as family members share festive images, videos, and seasonal content.

The pattern suggests that humor and shared cultural references are becoming an increasingly important social bond within modern families.

Worldwide, users aged over 55 generally participate less in digital activities than younger groups, although the share who communicate with family through messaging apps remains close to the global average at 85 percent.

Notably, 42 percent of people in this age group also share memes and social media posts.

While digital participation among older adults is rising, many may still be less prepared to cope with cybersecurity risks and online scams, underscoring the growing need for greater awareness of digital safety as family communication continues to shift further into the digital space.