Press Release: Social Media and the Mental Health of Vietnamese Adolescents
January 6, 2026
Press Release
Hanoi, October 4, 2024, in response to World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2024), the Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training under Hanoi Medical University, in collaboration with the Z&Alpha Initiative, organized a seminar titled: "Social Media and the Mental Health of Adolescents in Vietnam" on October 4, 2024 in Hanoi. The event aimed to raise awareness about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and to propose recommendations and concrete actions to protect and enhance the mental well-being of Vietnamese adolescents.
Presentations at the seminar affirmed that social media is playing an increasingly important role in personal and social life, especially among adolescents. According to statistics, Vietnam ranks among the leading countries in the world in terms of internet and social media usage. Currently, there are 72.70 million social media users, accounting for 73.3% of the population. Of these, 7.1% are aged 13–17 and 9.7% are aged 18–24 [1]. A 2022 UNICEF survey showed that 82% of Vietnamese children aged 12–13 use the Internet daily, and this figure rises to 93% among those aged 14–15.
Many speakers noted that social media platforms are designed to be addictive, particularly for young users, and may negatively impact mental health, leading to depression, insomnia, anxiety, academic distraction, and various other mental health issues. For example, in the United States, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive episodes among adolescents increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.3% in 2014 [2]. Screen-based media activities have been identified as one of the contributing factors to the rise in adolescent depression and suicide [3].
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Minh Giang, Director of the Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training at Hanoi Medical University, stated: "This seminar marks the first step toward comprehensive research on the impact of social media on the mental health of Vietnamese adolescents. Based on this foundation, we aim to develop awareness programs and provide guidance for schools, parents, and users on solutions to protect and enhance adolescent mental health in the digital era".
Speaking on the topic "The Relationship Between Social Media and Mental Health," Mr. Cao Hoàng Nam, representative of the Z&Alpha Initiative, emphasized: "Social media platforms employ various algorithms based on in-depth research into brain mechanisms to maximize usage time, continuously engaging users and creating addictive interaction cycles. Notably, these features are specifically designed for adolescent users and are not publicly disclosed".
Dr. Nguyễn Thị Mai Hương from the Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training shared insights into the specific impacts of social media on adolescent mental health. The benefits of social media include enhanced social connectivity, opportunities for self-expression, and access to information and resources for learning and daily life. Research indicates that approximately 81% of students report that social media helps them feel more connected to friends and the world around them. However, excessive use may result in negative consequences such as sleep disorders, depression, social isolation, internet addiction, cyberbullying, increased online crime, peer pressure, and exposure to harmful content. These risks are associated with self-harm, suicidal ideation, and other mental health problems. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and educating children about responsible and healthy social media use.
Ms. Nguyễn Phương Liên, a lecturer at Hanoi University, stated: "A study of 286 young Vietnamese women aged 10–35 found that those who frequently edit their personal images tend to have lower body confidence and are more likely to seek changes through physical exercise, dieting, or cosmetic surgery. This demonstrates that social media is not merely a virtual world, but it can serve as a catalyst for changes in the real world. As digital tools and the Internet penetrate every aspect of life, the boundary between reality and virtuality becomes increasingly blurred, leading to more visible and potentially deeper impacts in the future."
Speakers and researchers agreed that social media use should not only focus on accessing information but must also be accompanied by self-awareness of potential risks. Equipping young people with self-protection skills and maintaining control over their social media use is key to maximizing its benefits while minimizing negative effects on the mental health of Vietnamese adolescents.
[1] Digital Vietnam Report 2024
[2] Mojtabai R, et al. (2016). National trends in the prevalence and treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults. Pediatrics, 138(6).
[3] Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–283.