The creation of a healthy and safe information environment will contribute positively and effectively to protecting and maintaining political and social stability, and will serve as a foundation for Vietnam’s sustainable development.

Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission
for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong

This is affirmed by Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong in his recent article, which also points out negative impact of social media on social development and its more convenience.

Thuong said social media, especially social networks, is more and more convenient, becoming an important channel in promoting communication and social connection. 

However, he noted that social media is challenging administrative and technical management measures of all countries, especially developing ones. 

Like other countries around the globe, Vietnam is exploiting and promoting the preeminent characteristics of social media, while also facing negative impact difficult to control from the new communications form. 

Thuong said social media is becoming an increasingly complex front that hostile forces are taking advantage of to incite "colour revolution” elements in Vietnam. 

Lessons from the "color revolution" show that it is necessary to proactively identify and prevent factors that take advantage of social media to cause political and social instability from many directions with different ways, the official said. 

Thuong underlined the need to enhance guidance and direction and strict management of electronic press, social network and other forms of communications. 

Attention should be paid to promoting institutionalization, management effectiveness and efficiency of management, as well as fostering the active, pioneering and leading role of the mainstream press in providing information. 

Technological and technical solutions should be applied to raise public awareness of legal regulations and responsibility in joining social information platform, the article stressed. 

According to the article, after more than 20 years of internet integration, with more than 60 million users, Vietnam ranks 18th in the world in terms of the percentage of internet user and is one of the 10 countries with the highest number of Facebook and YouTube users.