Student Social Media Use High, But Doesn’t Guarantee Online Safety: Experts Warn of Rising Fraud
HANOI, VIETNAM - A new nationwide survey reveals Vietnamese students are overwhelmingly active on social media, yet experts caution that high usage doesn’t equate to online safety, particularly considering recent fraud cases. The survey, conducted among 26,300 students across the country, found 97.8% use Facebook and 97% use Zalo, with meaningful adoption of Instagram (84.7%) and TikTok (85.6%).
The study highlights a pervasive integration of social media into student life, with 85.1% identifying it as a daily activity.Entertainment is the primary driver for this usage, cited by 91.4% of respondents, followed by dialogue with friends and family, self-expression, and image building. However, this widespread engagement coincides with increasing vulnerability to online scams, prompting concern from cybersecurity professionals.
Vu Ngoc Son, Technology and International Cooperation Manager at the national Cyber Security Association, emphasized a critical distinction: “Knowing how to use technology” and possessing “digital security capabilities” are fundamentally different. He explained that preventative warnings often fall short because victims become isolated during scams, cutting off opportunities for external intervention.
Son further noted that criminals exploit trust by fabricating credible signals - mimicking official documents, institutions, and organizations – to disguise malicious intent within seemingly legitimate messaging. he stressed the need to bolster digital security skills and prioritize verification before acting on online information, advocating for a “stop, think, verify” approach to technology use.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/Tu-vu-sinh-2-mat-tich-tim-thay-o-khach-san-luot-mang-chi-xem-nham-20250925173123596.htm