The requirement that social media users in Vietnam authenticate their accounts with personal mobile phone numbers to post content, comment, live-stream, and share information is expected to reduce the high number of anonymous Vietnamese accounts.

Accordingly, the requirement will put an end to disturbances caused by incognito social media users.

Through catfishing, fraud, cyberbullying, anonymous communities, fake news and articles from unverified new sources, many social media users in Vietnam have lost money, assets, health, and trust. 

The new regulations on social media account verification are expected to ensure positive social media experiences.

Once social media accounts are identified, users will be forced to think carefully before publicizing opinions on social media and take responsibility for their posts. They will no longer be able to hide behind anonymous accounts.

It is true that positivity, good deeds, and knowledge can also be shared on unidentified accounts. However, it is important to sacrifice anonymity for the sake of a more transparent and healthier online environment.

In Vietnam, each idea shared on social media will have the same impact as a verbal statement uttered by a real person.

With verified and transparent members, online communities will be stronger and more civilized.

The remaining challenge is the enforcement of the policy. Relevant agencies should be open, wise, and fair in making the policy a helpful tool in creating positive online experiences.

Government Decree 147 on the management, provision, and use of Internet services and online information, which includes the requirement of authenticating social media accounts with mobile phone numbers, took effect from December 25.

Within 90 days, foreign organizations, enterprises, and individuals providing cross-border information in Vietnam and domestic social media service providers are required to identify users’ accounts via their mobile phone numbers in the country.

If users have no mobile phone numbers in Vietnam, they can utilize their personal identification numbers for such authentication.

Users can only host live streams for commercial purposes when they have validated their accounts with personal identification numbers.

Vietnamese users operate 110 million accounts on local social media platforms and 203 million accounts on international social media networks, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

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