Listening and protecting children in cyberspace

Women members listening to knowledge and skills on how to handle situations when their children use social media

Currently, many cases of fraud and child trafficking across borders using sophisticated tricks are becoming increasingly complex. Criminals often take advantage of children’s gullibility and lack of skills when using the Internet and social media to make friends with them, promise jobs, and even lure them abroad with the ploy of “easy work, high pay”. Not a few children under 16 have become victims of human trafficking, fraud, asset appropriation, or have been enticed into participating in illegal activities.

In response to this reality, Hue City Women’s Union organized forums on “Listening to Children - Protecting Children in Cyberspace” in several localities to exchange and share about the situation of children accessing the Internet and social media at an increasingly young age, facing many risks of being exploited by bad actors such as befriending and luring for the purposes of human trafficking, fraud, asset appropriation, enticing them into violent games, or exposing them to harmful content. This is a concerning issue as most children still lack sufficient skills to recognize and prevent these dangers.

In the framework of the forum, members shared real-life stories about their children being befriended by strangers, lured into transferring money online, or enticed to take part-time jobs with attractive wages. Police officers directly explained and provided guidance on skills for children to know how to refuse and report to adults, while also warning parents to stay vigilant and not leave the use of electronic devices entirely up to their children.

From this activity, mothers are equipped with more knowledge to accompany their children, creating a “safety shield” to protect them from the traps of cyberspace.