Alongside younger generations, the elderly are also impacted by information circulating online. Therefore, organizing the training program “Youth Supporting the Elderly in Preventing Harmful and False Information in the Digital Space” is essential.
On August 29, in Hanoi, the Central Vietnam Youth Union, under the direction of the Saint Giong Information Portal, held a training session on “Youth Supporting the Elderly in Preventing Harmful and False Information in the Digital Space.”
In his opening remarks, Nguyen Xuan Hieu, a member of the Central Youth Union Executive Committee and Deputy Head of the Youth Solidarity and Integration Department, emphasized that in the era of Technology 4.0, social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, YouTube, and TikTok have become ubiquitous, especially among the younger generation. Social media offers great benefits, providing rapid, free access to a vast repository of information and knowledge. It connects relationships and facilitates information exchange, replacing traditional methods.
However, social media also presents risks that can affect individuals and even social security and order. Harmful information can significantly impact users’ perceptions, leading them to adopt distorted views, especially among young people, the most frequent users.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hieu, both younger people and the elderly are affected by online information. Thus, the training program “Youth Supporting the Elderly in Preventing Harmful and False Information in the Digital Space” is highly necessary.
During the training, Dr. Dao Trung Hieu, a criminology expert from the Communications Department of the People’s Police, Ministry of Public Security, discussed basic skills in identifying and handling fake and deceptive information online. He emphasized that in order to counter hostile rhetoric and contribute to protecting the ideological foundation of the Party in the digital space, youth must enhance their political awareness, avoid sharing unethical or culturally inappropriate content, and refrain from commenting on topics they do not fully understand. Youth Union organizations at various levels should diversify methods of information dissemination by creating and using websites, blogs, and forums that provide in-depth, theory-based articles and collaborate with media outlets to counter false and hostile viewpoints on the internet and social media. This dual approach helps neutralize harmful content while guiding public opinion.
The training program utilized the Online Safety Handbook jointly developed by Google and the Center for Family Health and Community Development (CFC Vietnam), contributing to a safe and healthy online environment. The Vietnam Youth Union shares this objective. In addition to organizing training and raising awareness among staff, union members, and youth, the Union also aims to support the elderly and families of union members in ensuring online safety.
In this pilot training, participating units introduced tools and skills for safe online practices, with guidance from Google experts. Youth participants will then continue to educate the elderly on safer Internet usage, helping bridge the generation gap and fostering a safer, healthier, and more beneficial online environment.
| According to data from the Ministry of Information and Communications, as of June 2023, approximately 78.59% of Vietnam’s population are Internet users, spending an average of seven hours daily on online activities. Among them, the elderly are a significant user group, with those aged 55 and older making up nearly 20% of the country’s Internet users. Additionally, the elderly are often primary targets of cyberattacks, as they are more susceptible to scams. However, there is still no formal program or content focused on “digital literacy” or “online safety” specifically for the elderly in Vietnam. |
Hải Anh
