Why online spiritual stories raise ethical concerns?

A lot of content is masking or shrouding itself in traditional culture and faith to give off a compelling sense of "reality."

THE CREEPING FEAR OF CULTURAL DISTORTION

A noticeable trend in today’s spiritual storytelling is the use of cultural motifs whose origins are often unclear. Many works are framed as “ancient legends” or “traditional rituals,” even when these labels are merely creative devices. Creators frequently draw on the imagery of the Four Palaces tradition, spirit mediums, rural landscapes, or family histories to build a sense of cultural familiarity, blurring the boundary between verified belief and fiction.

(

On digital platforms, these motifs spread quickly and gain an air of authenticity through repetition. Algorithms boost high-engagement themes, and constant sharing makes invented details appear like genuine folklore. Over time, creative inventions can be absorbed into collective memory, shaping how audiences understand spiritual practices and rural traditions in the modern media environment.

QUESTIONING SOURCES AND WRITTER AUTHENTICITY

Although creators like TỐNG’S and Song Quỳnh claim their spiritual stories are written with good intentions, audiences still question the authenticity of this popular online genre. The main concern is unreliable sourcing, as many writers rely on oral anecdotes, personal memories, or forum posts without citations. This blurs the line between cultural storytelling and convenient fabrication, making it easy for unverified details to be mistaken for real folklore.

Some creators even label fictional elements as “true stories” to boost views, risking cultural distortion and public misunderstanding. The tension between adding dramatic horror and respecting spiritual traditions also raises ethical concerns. These issues highlight an urgent need for greater responsibility and accuracy in digital cultural content.

THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING ON YOUNG AUDIENCES

When writers exaggerate or fabricate spiritual elements to create horror and attract attention, these unverified stories can quickly distort public understanding of culture. Young people are the most vulnerable, as they often lack the background knowledge to distinguish authentic traditions from fictionalized details.

As this content spreads, sacred aspects of Vietnamese culture risk being misinterpreted. Rituals such as ancestor worship, commemorating national heroes, deity worship, and traditional festivals are increasingly portrayed as superstition or “curses,” reducing meaningful cultural practices to mere entertainment.

This misunderstanding erodes respect for cultural heritage, distances young people from their roots, and fuels the false belief that Vietnamese spiritual culture is defined only by fear or mysticism. It also commercializes sacred values, weakens trust in cultural scholarship, and creates fertile ground for misinformation.

Ultimately, the distortion of spiritual themes threatens the integrity of national cultural identity- something that must be preserved and passed on with honesty and care.

THE WRITER'S ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY

In the digital age, where stories spread faster than they can be verified, writers using spiritual themes must be clear about what is factual and what is fictional. Exaggerating or sensationalizing real rituals turns meaningful traditions into stereotypes, misleading audiences and reducing culture to superstition or horror. Ethical storytelling requires balancing creativity with accuracy so that Vietnam’s spiritual heritage is understood- not distorted for entertainment.