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Abstract
The rapid advancement of science and technology has revolutionized communication, with
social networks becoming a key part of modern life, particularly for young people.
Final project

Table of Contents
The picture of using social online network and some suggestive policies...................................................1
The Current State of Online Social Media Usage...................................................................................1
1.Commonly Used Online Social Media Platforms.............................................................................1
2.Frequency and Duration of Access....................................................................................................2
The Impact of Online Social Media on the Lives of Young People........................................................3
1. Impact on Economic..........................................................................................................................3
2.The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Well-Being of Young People...........................................4
3.The Impact of Social Media on Information Needs.............................................................................6
Discussion and Policy Recommendations................................................................................................7
1.Discussion............................................................................................................................................7
2. Policy Recommendations..................................................................................................................7
i. Regulated Entities.............................................................................................................................7
ii. Managing Entities............................................................................................................................9

2304 KTTC-23E3
The picture of using social online network and some suggestive policies
The strong development of science and technology has brought mankind numerous
new utilities in social connection and communication. The advent of online social
networks has marked a significant turning point in indirect communication. With their
appeal, social networks have become an integral part of people’s lives, especially among
young people. The usage of online social networks can be examined through a series of
questions, such as: Which social networks are most preferred? What are the levels and
durations of access? What are the purposes of usage, and how are networks being
connected? Clarifying these issues will provide valuable insights into policy
recommendations and contribute to guiding the development of this crucial
communication mode. These findings are based on data analysis derived from an
experimental survey conducted with 500 young people aged 16 to 35, randomly selected
among social network users in two cities: Hanoi and Nam Dinh.

The Current State of Online Social Media Usage

1.Commonly Used Online Social Media Platforms
Social media has been around for quite some time, but it wasn’t until 2004 with the
launch of Facebook that the Vietnamese online community became widely engaged.
Until now, social media has rapidly developed and attracted a large number of
participants across various networks. Surveys show that 61.8% of respondents reported
being members of at least one social media platform. 23.1% are members of two social
media platforms, and 15.1% belong to at least three. The most participation observed is
with up to 8 online social media platforms. Among these, Facebook is the social media
platform with the highest number of users.
Followed by Zingme and Google Plus. A total of 98.2% have used or are currently
using Facebook, nearly one-third (32.0%) use Zingme, and 18.2% use Google Plus. Other
social media platforms like Myspace, Yume, Tamtay, and Go... have not been widely
used by young people. This data is quite consistent with the findings of other studies
related to social media: According to Business Insider, Facebook's global membership
grows significantly each year (with up to 1.35 billion members registering monthly); in
the study by Nguyen Thi Phuong Cham, Facebook and Zingme are the most frequently
used platforms by young people aged 16 to 30, with 76.1% using Facebook and 44.9%
using Zingme; according to a survey by Cimigo Netcitizens, in 2010, 67% of Vietnamese
users were on Facebook and 19% on Zingme, making these the two most widely used
social media platforms.

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 Figure 1: Social Media Platforms Used (Unit: %)

2.Frequency and Duration of Access

Young people visit social media quite frequently. Among those surveyed, 76.4%
access social media on a daily basis, while 21.2% access it a few times a week. The
remaining few access social media less frequently, 1-3 times per month.
For young people, not only is the frequency of social media access relatively high, but
the average time spent on social media each day and the duration of each visit are also
considerable. On average, young people spend about 129 minutes on social media on
regular days, with this time increasing to 148 minutes on holidays. Each visit lasts about
36 minutes on regular days and 40 minutes on holidays. Thus, excluding those who
access it regularly, young people access social media 3-4 times a day on average, with
little difference between holidays and regular days.
In terms of time, on regular days, about half of young people spend less than 1 hour
on social media. The percentage of those spending 2 hours on social media on regular
days is 22.4%, while 12.4% spend 4 hours. On holidays, the time spent on social media is
significantly higher. The number of people spending more than 4 hours is 19.3%, which
is notably higher than on regular days.
Table 1: Average Total Time Spent Accessing Social Media Per Day on Holidays and Weekdays Over the
Past 12 Months (Unit: %)

Regular days Holiday

0-60 min 49,6 43,2
61-120 min 22,4 15,7

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 121-180 min 9,8 13,6
181-240 min 5,8 8,2
240 min or more 12,4 19,3
Total 100,0 100,0

The duration of each social media session under 15 minutes accounts for 40.5% of
young people on regular days, while this percentage drops to 31.9% on holidays. For
other time ranges of 15 minutes or more, the number of sessions on holidays is higher
than on regular days. Research data also shows that the duration of each social media
session is mainly under 1 hour. Only 7.6% of young people spend more than 1 hour per
session on regular days, compared to 9.3% on holidays.
The most recent social media usage time clearly reflects the frequency of social media
access among young people today. On average, the most recent session lasted 59 minutes,
with 30 minutes being the most common duration. Among the respondents, 29.2% spent
less than 15 minutes, 31.1% spent between 16-30 minutes, and 16.6% spent 1 hour or
more. Compared to the average session duration over the past year, the duration of the
most recent session is higher. This indicates that the time spent on social media by young
people is currently quite high and shows an increasing trend.

The Impact of Online Social Media on the Lives of Young People

1. Impact on Economic
As society develops, business methods have become more diverse. Alongside
traditional forms of direct sales in communal spaces like markets, shopping centers, or
supermarkets, a new form of commerce has emerged: indirect sales through the internet.
While this method is not entirely new, the advent of social media has significantly
boosted online trading activities. Advertising products and conducting economic
exchanges on social media have become popular among young people due to their
convenience, cost savings on physical locations, reduced investment in networking and
transportation, rapid information dissemination, and wide reach.

Creating or joining groups on social media has helped communities build and select
suitable business networks for their industries. Social media has established a habit and
an environment for trading and business. Among young people, 38.2% confirmed that
they frequently buy and sell on social media, while 29% participate in groups related to
trading and business. The influence of social media is more evident as the duration of
social media usage significantly correlates with participation in trading and business
groups. The longer young people have been on social media, the higher their participation

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rate in business groups. Those who access social media daily are twice as likely to join
trading and business groups compared to those who access it only 1-2 times a week.

Social media access time also has a clear impact on young people’s participation in
trading and business groups. The direct economic benefits are most evident through
material support received during social media interactions, such as financial assistance or
indirect help through job referrals, support with work tools, and connecting business
networks. Although the percentage of young people receiving material aid is not large, its
presence in interactions highlights the benefits of participating in social media.
Specifically, the benefits include job referrals (20.9%), connecting business networks
(10.3%), assistance with work tools (4.7%), material support (2.4%), and monetary gifts
(1.8%).

However, alongside the positives, social media also brings economic challenges,
particularly concerning time management and work productivity. Poor time allocation
and excessive use of social media consume significant time and money, inadvertently
reducing productivity, work quality, and efficiency. This affects not only the nation’s
economy but also the income and finances of individuals and organizations. Survey data
shows that the daily time spent and duration of each session on social media by young
people are considerable, negatively impacting work progress and, indirectly, their
economic well-being.

The survey indicates that 22.7% of young people admitted to experiencing delays in
work progress due to social media use. Furthermore, 0.7% reported losing their jobs, and
2.3% had conflicts with their managers due to excessive social media usage. Alarmingly,
some young people actively use social media as a way to "kill time" instead of investing
this valuable resource into learning and gaining knowledge for their future.

Additionally, social media use indirectly and directly impacts young people in other
ways. Fraud in online trading is relatively common, with 18.9% of respondents reporting
having been scammed in various forms during online transactions. Another issue is
account hacking, where impersonators deceive the victim’s social media friends for
fraudulent purposes.

2.The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Well-Being of

Young People

Social media is not only a platform for communication and sharing personal
information but also a space where young people express emotions, thoughts, and
attitudes that they may not convey through face-to-face interactions. On a personal level,
social media serves as an alternative means of communication, similar to texting or
writing, which are indirect communication methods via specific tools. However, with its
strong group connectivity, social media allows young people to express their emotions

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and thoughts not only to individuals but also to entire communities, fostering empathy
and sharing.

Most of these interactions are positive. Since social media forms a complex network
of relationships, users often aim to minimize negative effects on themselves. Comments
and responses, especially to personal thoughts and feelings shared online, are typically
encouraging and supportive. In this context, many young people tend to express their
emotions openly on social media.

Social media is seen as a means of emotional expression, with 56% of surveyed

young people agreeing that it allows them to express emotions and thoughts they
wouldn’t share in regular conversations, and 12.4% strongly agreeing. Additionally,
joining interest-based groups, such as those focused on travel and entertainment, helps
young people relax and find peace of mind.

The study found that 57.7% of young people participated in at least one group related
to travel or entertainment. Frequency, duration, and total time spent on social media
significantly impact participation in such groups. Over 60% of those in interest-based
groups accessed social media daily. Among users who spent less than 1 hour per day on
social media, 50% joined at least one travel or entertainment group. This figure rose to
73.5% for those using social media for more than 6 hours per day. Similarly, session
duration influenced group participation: 50.7% of those spending under 15 minutes per
session joined a group, compared to 71% of those spending over 1 hour per session.

Other aspects of social media's impact on mental well-being include emotions

triggered by activities such as liking, commenting, posting statuses, or receiving group
feedback. For instance, 32.4% of surveyed individuals reported feeling neutral when
receiving numerous likes on a post, 41.5% felt happy, 9.3% felt excited, while 1.2% felt
bored.

However, not all experiences are positive. About 65.5% of young people reported
feeling upset due to comments from friends, with 2.5% experiencing this frequently,
34.3% occasionally, and 28.7% rarely. This indicates that frustration from social media
interactions is relatively common among young people.

The phenomenon of "Facebook addiction" is also noteworthy. Many initially joined

Facebook because friends encouraged them to, but over time, it became a habit. Some
users feel restless if they don’t log into Facebook, even if they have nothing specific to
do. This behavior has evolved into what some describe as "Facebook syndrome," where
users browse aimlessly, read posts, view photos, or comment without meaningful
purpose.

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 This addiction is becoming increasingly common among students and young people.
Moreover, 30.6% of young people agreed with the statement, "I feel sad or bored if I
don’t access social media during the day." Social media has thus become an integral part
of the mental and emotional lives of many young people, influencing their well-being in
both positive and negative ways.

3.The Impact of Social Media on Information Needs

On social media, individuals connect not only with friends but also with groups,
organizations, or fan pages. These connections can exist between individuals, individuals
and groups, or among groups themselves, creating a super network of personal links. This
interconnectedness enables individuals to access vast amounts of diverse, uncurated
information. This information spans personal life updates, business product details,
humanitarian activities, breaking news, and societal events. The more extensive one’s
network and participation in groups, the greater the volume of information they can
access.

Survey results reveal the diversity of information exchanged on social media. The
most frequently shared content involves entertainment (59.6%), followed by work-related
information (52.6%) and academic content (31.3%). Other notable categories include
services and goods (23.1%), healthcare (19.7%), politics (15.9%), and celebrity news
(14.3%). These diverse exchanges greatly benefit young people in various life activities.
For instance, a student who previously had to cycle long distances for tutoring jobs now
uses social media to avoid unnecessary trips when a student is unavailable. Others
leverage social media to stay updated on class cancellations, exam scores, or to maintain
regular communication with family.

Despite its advantages, social media information comes with challenges. Although it
is accessible and inexpensive, it depends on external factors like devices and internet
connectivity. A major benefit is its speed in delivering updates, but this rapid spread of
information often sacrifices accuracy. Only 16.2% of young people consider social media
their primary source for decision-making, while 18.2% strongly disagree with this notion.
This skepticism likely stems from the sheer volume and diversity of information, making
it hard to trust as a definitive source. A majority (61.2%) of respondents believe social
media contains too much information, making it difficult to filter or orient oneself
effectively.

Additionally, the rapid spread of unverified information poses risks. Many posts lack
proper citations, particularly those sharing health tips, personal experiences, or
contentious societal issues. This undermines credibility and can lead to negative
consequences for users. Social media often disseminates sensationalized or inaccurate
information faster than verified sources, affecting public opinion and, at times, mental
well-being—especially when it pertains to health, economy, or political matters.

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 Another drawback is the lack of privacy. Social media provides a platform for self-
expression but often fails to guarantee user security. Moreover, the overwhelming influx
of content can distract young people from their studies, with misleading or chaotic
information disrupting their focus.

Beyond these impacts, social media influences other aspects of young people’s lives.
Many users dedicate significant time to virtual interactions, reducing their engagement in
real-world activities, especially physical activities. Furthermore, social media
participation affects young people's communication styles, introducing new linguistic
trends that differ from traditional communication norms.

These factors illustrate the multifaceted effects of social media on young people’s
lives, including economic, emotional, and informational dimensions, as well as their
participation in both virtual and real-world activities. These impacts are uniquely
pronounced in the online social media environment compared to other communication
methods.

Discussion and Policy Recommendations

1.Discussion

From real-world data, it is evident that social media (SM) exerts a strong attraction,
creating a vibrant and dynamic spiritual and social life. Activities in this environment
take place daily, with a continuous rhythm resembling a massive flow. With its utilities
and the strong participation of netizens, it is clear that the development of SM shows no
signs of stopping or slowing down but rather continues to grow relentlessly, attracting an
increasingly large and broad community of participants. This is due to the openness of
technology, the dual nature of information on SM, and the demand for services and
content available on SM.

In this context, management solutions must recognize that the development of SM is

inevitable and a natural aspect of socio-economic development. Managing SM simply by
prohibiting it when it generates negative impacts or harmful values for societal
development contradicts the laws of development, proves ineffective, and fails to achieve
scientific management of SM. Therefore, a suitable management approach is necessary to
promote the positive aspects of SM usage and build a healthy online world.

2. Policy Recommendations
i. Regulated Entities

For social media management to be effective, the primary guiding principle should
be to create favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to use the internet and
SM as useful tools for work and daily life, contributing to the development of civil
society—a foundation of a truly democratic society. This requires management policies

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to integrate various solutions, including administrative, technical, and social advocacy
measures, with awareness-raising campaigns for SM users being a continuous and long-
term solution that plays a leading role.

Regarding administrative management measures and the target of management,

current state documents contain certain regulations for managing SM, but these
regulations lack specificity, making it difficult for relevant authorities to address
violations. The latest document (Circular 09/2014/TT-BTTTT, dated August 19, 2014,
issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, detailing the management,
provision, and use of information on electronic information pages and SM) has, for the
first time, explicitly identified SM as a subject of management. However, it stops there
and does not single out SM as a distinct entity within the document.

Since the development of SM is inevitable, effective management requires dedicated

regulations and the establishment of a legal framework for managing SM. These
regulations should clearly and precisely define legal violations, specify permissible and
prohibited actions, outline the threshold for administrative sanctions versus criminal
liability, and determine appropriate fines based on the violators' categories. Furthermore,
these legal documents should target specific groups, particularly the youth, in the
management process.

In terms of the managing entities, the Ministry of Information and Communications

is currently responsible for overseeing and addressing violations related to SM. Although
inspection and enforcement efforts have been strengthened, the shared responsibility
model limits the capacity to promptly detect and address violations or prevent harmful
information. Thus, a specialized unit for managing SM is needed. In this regard, we can
learn from other countries' approaches. For example, in the United States, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) established a division called the Domestic
Communications Assistance Center, tasked with developing technologies to monitor
information on the internet and mobile communications.

Given the robust development of SM today, Vietnam urgently needs a specialized

management system to guide SM development. This management system should monitor
the implementation of policies by organizations and individuals participating in SM.
Establishing a hotline for users to report violations is also necessary. The workforce of
this management system should include young individuals—the most active SM users.

Among the widely used social networks today, aside from international platforms
like Facebook and Google Plus, Vietnamese platforms such as Zing Me have also
attracted a large community of users. This demonstrates the appeal of SM platforms
developed in Vietnam, engaging the local population. While Vietnamese authorities
grapple with addressing and blocking harmful information originating from overseas
servers or international SM platforms providing services to domestic users, promoting the

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development of local SM platforms could be a practical solution. Supporting these
enterprises would help create a healthier information environment on SM, align content
more closely with Vietnamese culture and traditions, and simplify management efforts.

However, these enterprises must be ensured a transparent, equitable, and fair

management environment. In addition to providing support, it is essential to collaborate
with service providers like FPT, Viettel, and VTC to implement management measures,
avoiding unchecked and unregulated service provision.

ii. Managing Entities

Beyond encouraging the development of domestic online SM platforms, the

advantages of this communication method must be harnessed and utilized. Using SM as a
channel for accessing socio-economic information reflects a reality: SM has become an
important source of information alongside traditional media such as newspapers, books,
printed materials, and online news. With the advent of the internet, its rapid and real-time
information-sharing capabilities have made the world more “flat,” enabling information
to reach people quickly and conveniently.

Moreover, traditional media typically focuses on a single topic, while information on

the internet is diverse and abundant. This diversity multiplies on SM, where a network of
social connections brings together various personalities and perspectives.

Given these advantages, should SM be considered a legitimate communication

channel? For social advocacy and awareness campaigns, the importance of SM is evident
in surveys showing minimal participation by young people in socio-political
organizations, especially the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Therefore, it is
essential to encourage and support these organizations in developing programs for
members through SM. Vietnamese SM platforms should be linked to official activities of
social organizations, encouraging youth unions from the central to local levels to use SM
as an effective tool to mobilize young people and organize movements.

Moreover, SM plays a crucial role in detecting and addressing extreme individuals

and their plans to disrupt social order. Documents for the National Youth Union Congress
should enhance methods of engagement and friendly interaction on SM platforms.

SM influences young people’s lives across multiple dimensions, including material,

economic, spiritual, and informational aspects. Alongside its undeniable negative effects,
SM has brought many positive values to young people’s lives.

Therefore, in communication strategies and media content, alongside highlighting the

negative aspects of SM, the positive contributions of SM to society should also be

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reflected. This would help alleviate public concerns, reduce societal skepticism, and
narrow the digital divide between different social groups.

Media outlets should showcase the diverse benefits of SM usage—its role in building
cultural life, connecting individuals and communities, and fostering more than just
personal self-expression.

Given the diverse impacts of SM across various dimensions, researching and

clarifying these effects cannot be resolved through a single investigation or a single
institution. Therefore, periodic large-scale surveys are necessary to examine one of the
most influential technological tools in human life

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