Workshop "The Impact of Social Networks on User Psychology"

The workshop was held in the context of social networks growing and becoming a large playground for communication, sharing and strong connection. According to a study by We Are Social Media in January 2017, with a population of about 93 million people, Vietnam has more than 46 million people regularly using social networks, ranking 22nd globally in terms of the number of social network users. In particular, Facebook only appeared in Vietnam in 2009, quickly becoming the most popular social network today. The strong development of this social network has formed new behaviors and psychological expressions in people such as changing the way of communication in the community or the way of expressing one's personality, including both positive changes and negative variations leading to many complex social problems.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh ((Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Internet and Society Research Program (VPIS)) affirmed: “Facebook is becoming a "global village", creating perfect opportunities for connection and interaction to communicate and contact in the digital age. In addition to the undeniable benefits of Facebook and the Internet, it also has unpredictable negative impacts. Therefore, we need to have specific studies on the multi-dimensional impacts of social networks on users. The theme of this conference focuses on the impact of social networks on users' psychology and health, which is an extremely necessary topic to help answer questions that the social network community in Vietnam is interested in. This research will be a premise for domestic researchers to conduct more in-depth research, contributing to promoting positive aspects, limiting negative aspects, helping users use social networks more effectively and healthily.”

Workshop to announce report "Impact of Facebook on user psychology 2017""-The first of VPIS's annual research reports on social media user psychology. The report aims to show the usage status, emotional expressions, sense of self-worth and level of attachment of users to Facebook.

Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and member of the Vietnam Association of Psychology and Education (VAPE) spoke at the conference.

Sharing the research results of VPIS, psychologist Dr. Tran Thanh Nam said: “Report on the Psychological Impact of Social Networks on User Psychology 2017To beThe first study in Vietnam using the 72-hour experimental method without Facebookto measure changes in participants’ psychological state and level of engagement with Facebook after 3 days. The notable results were that nearly43.1%Participants violated their commitment within the first 6 hours of participating. The emotional states that were often higher than average during the experiment were that participants felt disconnected from their friends, left behind due to not grasping the information that was happening, and always felt restless and lacking something.”

Dr. Le Minh Cong (DeputyDeanFaculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM)

Dr. Le Minh Cong, Deputy Head of Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City,One of the speakers of the Workshop presented conceptual approaches to Internet addiction, of which two approaches are widely considered, the approach based on the foundation of “impulse control disorder” (Young, 1996; Block, 2008) and the approach based on substance use disorders (Goldberg (1996; Griffiths, 1996, 2007). The impulse control disorder approach argues that Internet addiction is the inability to resist a compulsive action or behavior that can harm oneself or others and is a group of disorders of loss of behavioral control ...”. The study by Dr. Le Minh Cong and Nguyen Van Tho in 2015 on adolescents addicted to the Internet in Dong Nai showed the following prominent signs: Loss of control, Tolerance (increasing), Lying to family and teachers about accessing behavior, Having withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, boredom, loss of interest) and Impact seriously affect study, work, social relationships.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Hong Thai (GLecturer, Faculty of Psychology, University ofSocial & Employee, UniversityQGHN)

Participating in the discussion at the workshop, Associate Professor Bui Thi Hong Thai (Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) shared the results of the research "Social networks with Vietnamese youth - Current situation and solutions (Professor Tran Huu Luyen, head of the research, implementation period: 2012-2015) showing that students often use social networks for the highest purpose of interaction and entertainment online, followed by the purpose of self-expression (expressing emotions, opinions, sharing psychological difficulties) and at the lowest level is the use of social networks for business and life testing. Students using social networks are often under pressure in terms of time (the time spent on social networks is increasing) and affects their life activities (studying, communicating with friends, health). However, the impact on the ability to control themselves when using social networks is insignificant.

MSc., Dr. Vu Huy Hoang, International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM)

With experience in training, research and treatment of substance addiction in Vietnam, Dr. Vu Huy Hoang, International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) commented: “We can see that the world is currently making many efforts to research, classify and provide diagnostic criteria for disorders related to internet applications. Currently, disorders caused by substance addiction manifest as compulsion to use, craving, increasing duration and frequency of use, desire but not being able to reduce or stop use, and even use despite the consequences to relieve the symptoms of addiction. With the available information on behavioral and substance addiction, we understand that these are disorders related to biomedical-psychological-social. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent and intervene as early as possible, both physically and behaviorally, as well as to promptly address stigma and discrimination, a factor that is always a major barrier in solving addiction problems. In the near future, intervention models at hospitals, schools, or VPIS groups will probably provide more in-depth information. more about the manifestations, psychological and physical problems related to social media use, helping to diagnose early and provide appropriate interventions.”

In addition, the conference attracted many domestic and international theoretical and research agencies, leaders of universities and psychological research institutes, representatives of many embassies, organizations, associations, and unions related to the Internet and press agencies to discuss and find solutions to psychological problems of social network users while opening up new research directions on the impacts of social networks on people in particular and social life in general.

The workshop attracted many press and media agencies.