With economic development comes social change, but often with any positive comes a negative, and teenagers are exploiting their increased individualism through using swearwords to make an impression.

Teenagers are revelling in the belief that the more shocking their behaviour, and the more they are noticed, the better.

Sworn at

Nineteen year-old Trang was shocked by the torrent of abuse she received from a junior secondary student in Hanoi after she accidentally ran over the student’s brand-new shoes with her bicycle.

Despite Trang’s best efforts to apologise, the student continued to vent a spew of swearwords at her.

Trang was disappointed to find that the foul-mouthed student was supported by their friends, who egged on the youngster further.

High school students were recently castigated for abusing a street cleaner who had done nothing more than asked a group of kids to allow her to pass by.

Despite wearing clearly identifiable school uniforms, the children didn’t seem to care about the shame they were likely to cause to the school’s reputation.

Violence also dogs junior secondary and high schools. Groups of young thugs are often led by spoiled students.

In order to become such “prestigious” leaders, an ability to revile is a must, but a dash of aggression is additionally required if schoolgirls are going to make the gang grade.

Bad language can be heard throughout the country, from tea stands to internet shops and city streets.

Old Lua, an owner of a tea stand in Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District, said, “I’ve maintained my tea stand for years and often hear clients swearing, and it’s mostly schoolchildren doing it.”

Parental ignorance

Teacher Thang of Nguyen Trai Junior Secondary School in Thanh Xuan District, said, “Students using bad language is seen as normal, which seems to act as a spark for other more anti-social behaviour.”

However, parents rarely seem to be aware of their children’s bad behaviour, as when it comes to home time, the foul-mouthed hotheads become their meek and mild sons and daughters.