FROM AWARENESS TO BEHAVIOR: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS IN PREVENTING ONLINE KIDNAPPING AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS – A CASE STUDY OF PHU THIEN COMMUNE, GIA LAI PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Abstract: In the context of the increasing use of the Internet and social networking platforms among high school students, the risk of online kidnapping—commonly associated with online grooming leading to abduction or extortion—has emerged as a serious threat. This study aims to identify the characteristics of online kidnapping behaviors, examine the current level of awareness among high school students in Phu Thien Commune, Gia Lai Province, and propose effective preventive educational interventions.

A survey was conducted with 715 students and 71 teachers from two high schools in the area. The results reveal that 76.2% of students had little or no understanding of online kidnapping, nearly 70% had interacted with strangers online, and almost 50% had shared personal information on the Internet. Furthermore, 43.2% of students reported handling online threats on their own or confiding only in peers, rather than seeking assistance from adults.

Based on these findings, the study designed and implemented a comprehensive intervention framework, including awareness campaigns, the development of a digital safety handbook, the establishment of student clubs, the use of artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) for scenario-based simulations, and the integration of online safety topics into school curricula. Experimental results demonstrate significant improvements: students’ awareness of online kidnapping increased from 23.8% to 97%, while safe response skills and the tendency to seek adult assistance improved markedly, with the reporting rate rising from approximately 40% before intervention to 87% after intervention. Notably, 93.5% of students evaluated ChatGPT as highly useful in recognizing early signs of online fraud and grooming.

The study concludes that combining digital safety education with AI-based tools and fostering collaboration among schools, families, and communities constitutes an effective approach to preventing online kidnapping among high school students.