Beginning in 2021, I oversaw the Research and Development team at CyberKid Vietnam, conducting studies on three target audiences: kids, students, and parents, with the intention of continuing to produce educational products that raise kids' understanding of cyberthreats.

Parents

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1. Methodology: Quantitative research (Digital and Paper surveys)
2. Participants: Parents having 1-16 years old kids, using Internet. Quantity: 565 parents
3. Research problems: Parental perceptions on children's safety on the Internet; methods of guiding and managing children on the Internet; informative approaches towards parents
4. Research content:

• Kids’ Internet consumption frequency
• Do parents know what kids search for?
• Do parents check for what kids do on the Internet?
• Have kids ever encountered with unwanted/dangerous situation on the Internet?
• How do parents know about their child's problems?
• Have parents ever guided their children about  Internet safety?
• Information channels parents usually use

5. Research results:

• Most parents think that their children use the Internet everyday for a certain period of time.
• Watching videos, learning and entertainment are the three main contents that parents think their children frequently access. A very small proportion of parents thinks their children are accessing prohibited content.
• More than 70% of parents said that they have checked their children's activities on the Internet by many measures.
• Almost 30% of parents said that their children have encountered with unpleasant situations on the internet, while 25.2% of parents are not sure about this issue.
• Nearly 60% of parents believes that their children would open up about their problems online, 15% of parents would figure out by others letting them know.
• 60% of parents said that they instructed their children to use the network safety. While only 42.5% of parent often guide their children with specific examples, many of which still use intimidation as a form of educating.
• Parents often access educational information through social networks, electronic newspapers, TV / Radio. Others gain access via Youtube, from the school, their child's teacher, and colleagues.

I don’t want to prohibit my children from using the Internet. But I’m afraid that my child will become a victim of cyber crimes and I want to protect them, but I don't know how to do it, because I haven’t found a specific source of information.

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Children

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1. Methodology: Quantitative research (Digital and Paper surveys)
2. Participants: Children from 6 - 16 years old. Quantity: 605 children.
3. Research problems: Understanding children's behaviours and vulnerability on the Internet; how they reacts to unwanted problems.
4. Research content:

• The age children started to use InternetInternet usage frequency.
• What do children use Internet for?
• Social media that children use the mostHow parents control children's screen time and digital activities.
• Have children encountered with unpleasant situations online?
• Have parents ever guided their children about  Internet safety?
• Do children tell adults about their bad experiences online?
• Children’s opinion of who being responsible for protecting children online.

5. Research results:

• Most children start using the internet when they are 8-10 years old. Many children access the Internet from 5-6 years old.
• Over 40% of children use the internet everyday for a certain period of time. Nearly another 40% of children are able to use the Internet freely.
• Watching videos, studying/ doing homework, chatting with friends, playing games are 4 contents that children often access on the Internet. A small number of children have accessed prohibited contentYoutube and Facebook are 2 most popular social networks that kids use.
• More than 30% of children said that their parents only check occasionally. 22.2% of children have freely usage, their parents never check.
• Over 60% of children have encountered with unpleasant situations onlineMost children do not prefer to tell adults about their bad experiences online, as they fear their parents getting worried, scolding, or restricting their Internet usage.
• Most children believe that the responsibility belongs to themselves, followed by teachers, parents, and the government.

I am very curious about cyberspace, because there are a lot of interesting things there, but I do not know about the dangers out there.