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

Planned: July 2026

Context

In the digital era, social media has become inseparable from the lives of children and adolescents. Beyond communication and entertainment, it now shapes identity, supports career development and builds social relationships.

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 social anxiety, image pressure, FOMO 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

In June 2026 the UK 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

Parliament is proposing a ban on social media for under-15s following an in-depth inquiry into the negative effects of digital platforms.

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 1 June 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 973/QĐ-TTg approving 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.

Conference goals

The conference is organised to create an academic and policy forum to:

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

Planned dateAugust 15, 2026

VenueUnited Nations Conference Hall – 305 Kim Ma, Hanoi

OrganizersCo-organized by the University of Education (VNU), the Department of Student Affairs (Ministry of Education & Training) and UNICEF Vietnam; coordinated by the Z&Alpha Initiative.

Expected 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: UNICEF, WHO, ChildFund, Save the Children…
University representatives: Psychology (University of Education), Psychology (VinUni), Communications (British University Vietnam), Hanoi Medical University…
Press: VTV, VnExpress, Tuoi Tre, Nhan Dan, Zing News…
Teachers and students from universities, high schools and secondary schools in Hanoi.

Planned agenda

Time	Content
08:30 – 09:00	Guest reception
09:00 – 09:20	Opening remarks & conference introduction
09:20 – 09:40	Theme 1: Communication and mental-health education in educational institutions (Department of Student Affairs, Ministry of Education & Training); Situation overview & UNICEF projects protecting the mental health of children and adolescents
09:40 – 10:00	Theme 2: How and why social media impacts the mental health of children and adolescents; Field-experiment report on the 16–20 group: 5 days without social media
10:00 – 10:20	Theme 3: Overview of international research & policy responses and proposals for Vietnam; Proposal for a national research programme (MoU signing)
10:20 – 10:30	Break & group photo
10:30 – 11:50	Open discussion: Solutions and next actions for Vietnam; Impact of social media, generative AI and AI companions on adolescent mental health; Research & awareness-raising activities; Implementation coordination
11:50 – 12:00	Closing summary & adjournment

Get in touch

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