Activities

Policy recommendations

Evidence-based policy proposals and recommendations for schools, parents and regulatory bodies.

Upcoming conference

Social media and the mental health of children and adolescents: An urgent issue requiring action

8:30 AM, Saturday 15/08/2026 · Bao Son International Hotel, Hanoi

Context

In the digital era, social media has become inseparable from the lives of children and adolescents. Beyond communication and entertainment, it now shapes personal identity, supports learning and builds channels of connection.

Yet the prevalence of social media also brings concerning negative impacts — especially on mental health, attention for learning, and the holistic development of young people. Manifestations such as depression, anxiety, image pressure, reduced concentration, less physical activity and face-to-face interaction, and cyberbullying are increasingly common.

International action

Several countries have adopted or proposed policies to protect children and adolescents in the digital environment.

United Kingdom

On 15 June 2026 the UK government announced a ban on social media for under-16s. A government survey of 116,000 responses from parents, businesses and young people found 90% support for a minimum age of 16.

Australia

Parliament passed a law banning social media for under-16s, expected from December 2025, with fines up to AUD 50 million (about USD 33 million) for non-compliant platforms.

Indonesia

Banned social media for children under 16, effective March 2026.

South Korea

Banned smartphone use in classrooms from primary through high school, effective March 2026.

France

On 21 July 2026 the French Parliament passed a law banning social media for children under 15, rolled out in two phases: from 1 September 2026, under-15s cannot create new accounts and high-school students cannot use phones at school; existing accounts will be covered from January 2027.

In Vietnam

Initial studies and forums have documented the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. However, there is still a lack of empirical data, concrete scientific evidence and clear policy recommendations for parents, schools, regulators and technology platforms.

On 23 March 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 468/QĐ-TTg approving the programme “Protecting and supporting children to develop in the online environment, 2026–2030”, aiming to build a safe digital ecosystem, complete the legal framework and improve children's digital skills. On 1 June 2026, Decision No. 973/QĐ-TTg approved the “School Health Program 2026–2035”, with urgent tasks to improve policy and law on school health and to strengthen communication, education and mental-health care in educational institutions.

On 13 July 2026, the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) published a draft decree amending Decree No. 147/2024/NĐ-CP on the management, provision and use of Internet services and online information, proposing that children under 16 may not open social-media accounts themselves: parents open and manage accounts, content and screen time, and children's accounts are view-only with no posting or commenting.

Conference goals

The conference is a timely contribution to implementing these decisions, focusing on:

How is social media affecting the mental health of children and adolescents?
Share international experience and existing research findings.
Discuss urgent challenges in Vietnam.
Propose policy, education and communication solutions to protect mental health for children and adolescents in the digital environment.

Key discussion topics

What solutions should Vietnam deploy to raise awareness and reduce social-media risks for children and adolescents?
What are the priority actions for the next 5–10 years?
How can we strengthen cross-sector coordination between the state, schools, families, society and technology platforms?

Event information

Date & time8:30 AM, Saturday, August 15, 2026

VenueBao Son International Hotel, 50 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Lang Ward, Hanoi

Organizers

Department of Student Affairs (Ministry of Education & Training)VNU University of EducationUNICEF Vietnamcoordinated by Z&Alpha Initiative

Participants

Department of Culture – Society, Government Office
Committee for Culture and Society, National Assembly
Department of Student Affairs, Ministry of Education & Training
Ministry of Health
Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Hanoi Medical University
International organizations and NGOs
University representatives: Psychology (University of Education), Psychology (VinUni), Communications (British University Vietnam), Hanoi Medical University…
Businesses
Press agencies
Teachers and students from universities, high schools and secondary schools in Hanoi.

Conference agenda

Time	Content	Presenters
08:30 – 09:00	Guest reception	Organizing committee
09:00 – 09:20	Opening remarks & conference introduction	VNU University of Education UNICEF Department of Student Affairs (MOET)
09:20 – 09:40	Theme 1: Communication and mental-health education in educational institutions Social media and children's mental health: from practical evidence to rights-based action	Department of Student Affairs (MOET) UNICEF Vietnam
09:40 – 10:00	Theme 2: Research overview on the impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents Field-experiment report: a 54-hour pause from social media and its impact on adolescents' emotions and coping strategies	VNU University of Education research team of university staff and students
10:00 – 10:20	Theme 3: The link between business models, social-media design and mental health International research & policy responses and proposals for Vietnam	Z&Alpha Initiative
10:20 – 10:35	Break & group photo	Organizing committee
10:35 – 10:45	Research programme “Social media use and the mental health of Vietnamese adolescents”	VNU University of Education Z&Alpha Initiative
10:45 – 11:45	Open discussion: Solutions and next actions for Vietnam Impact of social media and AI on the mental health and learning of children and adolescents Research, education and awareness-raising activities Implementation coordination	All delegates
11:45 – 12:00	Closing summary & adjournment	Organizing committee

Get in touch

Have a question, a partnership idea, or want to join the initiative? Connect with Z & Alpha.