Children shouldn't be handed over to social media: Return real life to kids

Children in Vietnam are increasingly tethered to their phones, a trend that worries many parents and readers. "When I was little, summer meant catching crabs and flying kites. Now, when I visit my hometown, I see children glued to their phones. I wish there were more real-world play areas so they'd depend less on the virtual world," shared a reader named Khoai lang.

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When I was little, summer meant catching crabs and flying kites. Now, when I visit my hometown, I see children glued to their phones. I wish there were more real-world play areas so they'd depend less on the virtual world.

Peer pressure is a significant factor, with a 13-year-old reportedly telling his family that not having a TikTok account made him feel "outdated" and unable to connect with friends. Another reader recounted a college student's experience working at a children's activity center, where a child secretly used a friend's phone to access TikTok after being forbidden by parents. "It's funny and worrying. Banning without management is pointless," the reader noted.

Some parents resort to strict bans, but readers argue this can be counterproductive. One reader shared that a 7th-grade cousin demanded to dye his hair pink like a KOL, and refused to eat when denied. Another admitted to secretly creating a TikTok account in middle school, fearing they would have become engrossed in pointless trends if not caught. "Banning children from social media is right, but after banning, you must show them what else to play or do. Just banning them makes them find ways around it," stated reader Doan Hang.

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Banning without management is pointless.

Readers also highlight the lack of safe physical spaces for children to play, with one noting that busy parents often resort to giving children phones for entertainment. Suggestions range from banning entertainment platforms like TikTok and Facebook for those under 16, due to harmful content, to allowing educational apps. Others advocate for controlled usage, with one parent successfully limiting their 12-year-old son's screen time to one hour daily, leading to him preferring outdoor play. The debate underscores a complex challenge for Vietnamese families navigating the digital age.

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Banning children from social media is right, but after banning, you must show them what else to play or do. Just banning them makes them find ways around it.