Workshop "The Impact of Social Media on User Psychology"

The workshop was held against the backdrop of the ever-growing development of social media, which has become a vast platform for interaction, sharing, and strong connection. According to research by We Are Social Media in January 2017, with a population of approximately 93 million, Vietnam has over 46 million regular social media users, ranking 22nd globally in terms of the number of social media users. Facebook, which only appeared in Vietnam in 2009, quickly became the most popular social network today. The rapid development of social media has shaped new behaviors and psychological expressions in people, such as changes in communication within the community or ways of expressing individuality, including both positive and negative changes leading to many complex social problems.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Vietnam Internet and Society Research Program (VPIS)) affirmed: “Facebook is becoming a ‘global village,’ creating perfect opportunities for connection and interaction for communication in the digital age. Besides the undeniable benefits of Facebook and the Internet, it also has downsides and unpredictable negative impacts. Therefore, we need specific research on the multifaceted impacts of social networks on users. The theme of this workshop focuses on the impact of social networks on the psychology and health of users, a crucial topic that contributes to answering questions that the social media community in Vietnam is concerned about. This research will serve as a foundation for domestic researchers to conduct more in-depth studies, contributing to promoting positive aspects, limiting negative aspects, and helping social media users use it more effectively and healthily.”

The seminar announced the report "The Impact of Facebook on User Psychology 2017"."ButThis report kicks off VPIS's annual series of research reports on social media user psychology. The report aims to highlight the current state of Facebook usage, emotional expressions, self-worth perceptions, and levels of engagement among users.

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

Sharing the research findings of VPIS, psychologist Dr. Tran Thanh Nam said:Report on the Psychological Impact of Social Media on User Psychology 2017To beThe first study in Vietnam using a 72-hour Facebook-free experimental method.to measure changes in participants' psychological state and level of engagement with Facebook after 3 days. The results were noteworthy, showing nearly43.1%Participants in the experiment violated their commitments within the first six hours. Commonly observed, higher-than-average emotional states throughout the experiment included feelings of disconnection from friends, feeling left behind due to a lack of current information, and experiencing a constant sense of restlessness and deprivation.

Dr. Le Minh CongDeputyFacultyDepartment of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

Dr. Le Minh Cong, Deputy Head of Department, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.,One of the speakers at the conference presented conceptual approaches to Internet addiction, including two widely considered approaches: the "impulse control disorder" approach (Young, 1996; Block, 2008) and the substance use disorder approach (Goldberg (1996; Griffiths, 1996, 2007)). The impulse control disorder approach posits that Internet addiction is the inability to resist compulsive actions or behaviors that may harm oneself or others, and is a group of behavioral control disorders…. A 2015 study by Dr. Le Minh Cong and Nguyen Van Tho on Internet-addicted adolescents in Dong Nai showed prominent signs: loss of control, increasing tolerance, lying to family and teachers about internet access, symptoms of withdrawal syndrome (anxiety, sadness, loss of interest), and serious impact on Studies, work, social relationships.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Hong Thai (G)Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of ScienceHXH&NVUniversityQGHN)

Participating in the workshop, Associate Professor Bui Thi Hong Thai (Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) shared the results of her research "Social Networks and Vietnamese Youth – Current Situation and Solutions" (led by Professor Tran Huu Luyen, conducted from 2012-2015). The research showed that students primarily use social networks for interaction and entertainment, followed by self-expression (expressing emotions, opinions, and sharing psychological difficulties), and at the lowest level, for business and life experimentation. Students using social networks often face time pressure (increasing social media usage time) and its impact on their daily activities (studying, socializing with friends, health). However, the impact on their ability to manage their social media use is negligible.

MSc, MD Vu Huy Hoang, International Society for Addiction Medicine (ISAM)

With experience in training, research, and treatment of substance addiction in Vietnam, Dr., Master of Science. Vu Huy Hoang, from the International Society for Addiction Medicine (ISAM), stated: “We can see that the world is currently making many efforts to research, classify, and establish diagnostic criteria for disorders related to internet applications. Currently, substance addiction disorders manifest as compulsions to use, cravings, increasing duration and frequency of use, desires that cannot be reduced or stopped, and even use despite consequences in order to alleviate the symptoms of addiction. With the information already available on behavioral addiction and substance addiction, we understand that these are disorders related to biomedical, psychological, and social factors. Therefore, prevention and intervention should be carried out as early as possible, both physically and behaviorally, as well as addressing stigma and discrimination early on, a factor that is always a major barrier in solving addiction problems. In the short term, intervention models in hospitals, schools, or in VPIS groups will likely provide more in-depth information on these issues.” "It will help identify manifestations, psychological and physical problems related to social media use, enabling early diagnosis and the provision of appropriate interventions."

Furthermore, the conference attracted numerous domestic and international theoretical and research institutions, leaders of universities and psychological research institutes, representatives from many embassies, organizations, associations related to the Internet, and news agencies to discuss and find solutions to the psychological problems of social media users, while also opening up new research directions on the impact of social media on individuals in particular and social life in general.

The workshop attracted a large number of media outlets.