The “Digital Safe House” pages on TikTok and Facebook. VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Nhung

ĐỒNG THÁP — As the “Digital Literacy for All” movement gains ground across Đồng Tháp Province, the Women’s Union of Sa Đéc Ward is putting digital technology to work in everyday life, local business and community safety, with a particular focus on protecting women, children and vulnerable people.

“Digital Safe House” protects families

One of the union’s most effective initiatives is the “Digital Safe House”.

According to Huỳnh Thị Thanh Trúc, chairwoman of the Sa Đéc Ward Women’s Union, the initiative uses popular social media platforms to educate women, children and the wider community about domestic violence, abuse of women and children, school violence, gender equality and online safety. It also offers a safe, welcoming online space where women and children can find useful information, share their concerns and get timely help with psychological or legal problems or when they feel unsafe.

The initiative is promoted on Facebook, TikTok, Zalo and other platforms. Knowing that young people are comfortable with smartphones and prefer short, simple and entertaining videos, the union has produced punchier awareness clips, especially for TikTok.

The initiative has helped keep local families safe, particularly women and children. To reach more people, the union has also run training sessions showing residents how to find and use the “Digital Safe House” content online.

Dương Yến Thư, the union’s vice chairwoman, said the initiative had given residents, especially women, children and vulnerable people, a wealth of useful information.

Many women who once readily trusted messages and calls from strangers now check information first, never transfer money without verifying requests and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Some have even stopped relatives from being scammed after watching the union’s warning videos. Children have also become more careful, no longer posting personal photos thoughtlessly and telling their parents when they come across harmful content online.

Children in Sa Đéc are taught to think before they post, not to believe everything they see online, never to meet online acquaintances without an adult, to say “no” and to ask for help. Families, schools, technology and the law all work together to keep them safe online.

Supporting livelihoods

Many women in Sa Đéc are also using digital technology to earn a living, selling products online and partnering with local producers to set up online shops for their families and relatives.

Union member Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Lợi said that once the union began using technology in its activities, she learned how to make videos to sell home-made products online.

She photographs her products, turns the images into promotional clips and posts them on Zalo, TikTok and Facebook, while also selling through Shopee affiliate links. Customers who click on her posts can see how the products are made before deciding to buy.

Online sales have brought her a significant extra income. Her videos have also helped many producers in Sa Đéc and neighbouring communes, as well as partner businesses, secure steady monthly sales.

Used well, digital platforms are making a real difference. Many Sa Đéc residents now feel confident answering calls from unknown numbers and dealing with online scams, rather than panicking as they once did.

Local resident Lê Thị Thanh Thảo said her family now understands the risks online, from financial fraud to shopping scams, and no longer gets cheated when buying online. They have also learned the importance of protecting personal data and are more careful on social media and other digital platforms. — VNS