A new survey from the Pew Research Center underscores a generation increasingly ambivalent about social media: while most American teens credit social platforms with boosting connections to friends, nearly half now say these sites have a mostly negative effect on people their age—up markedly from just two years ago. The report, released April 22, 2025, is a comprehensive reflection of shifting attitudes among teens and their parents, highlighting mounting concern over youth mental health amid unprecedented digital exposure. For Thailand—a nation ranking among the world’s leaders in internet and smartphone usage among youth—these findings ring alarm bells about the potential risks and opportunities facing its own adolescents in the digital age. (Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media and Mental Health)
The survey, covering 1,391 U.S. teens (aged 13-17) and their parents, found stark differences in perceptions between the two generations. While 74% of teens say social media helps them stay connected, 48% believe these sites negatively affect their peers—a jump from 32% in 2022. Notably, only 14% see these platforms as mostly negative for themselves, suggesting a curious divide: teens are more likely to view social media as harming others rather than their own wellbeing. The sharp rise in teens’ skepticism is a warning sign for policymakers, educators, and parents not just in the U.S., but in hyper-connected societies like Thailand, where nearly every adolescent owns a smartphone and spends hours on multiple platforms daily.
The issue of teen mental health resonates globally, with diverse factors at play, from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to socioeconomic pressures. However, the latest Pew findings echo growing global scrutiny—reflected in warnings from officials such as U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and echoed in Thai debates—of social media’s role in rising rates of anxiety, depression, and related mental health challenges. Thai experts have likewise raised concerns: a Ministry of Public Health survey found more than 30% of Thai youth report high stress or depressive symptoms, often linked to conflicts or exclusion on social networks or through cyberbullying (Bangkok Post).
The Pew study illuminates how these pressures are perceived differently by parents and teens. A majority of parents (55%) described themselves as extremely or very concerned about teen mental health—far higher than the 35% of teens reporting similar concern. Gender and ethnicity further shape responses: mothers (61%) are more worried than fathers (47%), and parents of girls more likely than those of boys to express high concern. Among teens themselves, girls again report higher levels of worry (42% vs. 28% for boys), and Black teens and their parents express the greatest concern compared to White and Hispanic respondents.
Causes of mental health issues in youth remain contested. According to Pew, parents most frequently blamed social media (44%) for teens’ mental struggles, capturing the anxiety of raising children in a fast-changing digital world. “They live in a fake world of social media that limits them…and distances them from family,” one mother was quoted. Teens, while still naming social media (22%) as a key culprit, pointed to a wider array of challenges—bullying, social pressures, and high expectations, with one respondent noting, “Everyone expects teens to have it all figured out by the time we get out of high school.”
For Thailand, the Pew research echoes similar patterns: a 2023 Thai Health Promotion Foundation report highlighted that Thai teens spend an average of 7-8 hours online daily, crossing the threshold associated with higher risk of anxiety, sleep disruption, and cyberbullying (Thai Health Watch). The growing international consensus, backed by data from the World Health Organization, is that overuse of digital platforms can aggravate underlying mental health issues, especially among young women and marginalized groups.
Communication about mental health remains a sensitive terrain. Pew’s findings show that 80% of parents would be extremely or very comfortable discussing their child’s mental health—compared to just 52% of teens who felt the same. Girls are more open than boys to talking with friends or therapists, reflecting broader cultural taboos around expressing vulnerability, particularly among young men. In the Thai context, these patterns are compounded by traditional expectations of emotional restraint and respect for authority, often making candid conversations about anxiety, depression, or cyberbullying even harder for สาวไทย (Thai girls) and เด็กหนุ่มไทย (Thai boys) alike.
Screen time remains a contentious issue for both generations. More than four in ten teens (45%) in the U.S. now say they spend too much time on social media, a sharp increase from 27% in 2023. In Thailand, surveys by the National Statistical Office hint at comparable or even longer social media use among adolescents. Yet the desire to cut back is growing: 44% of American teens have tried to reduce their time online—a figure mirrored in Thai reports as schools and parents encourage “digital detox” campaigns, especially following government-initiated shutdowns during the COVID-19 crisis.
Not all effects of social media are negative. Pew’s nuanced findings reveal that three-quarters of teens credit these platforms with helping them stay connected with friends, and over 60% see them as outlets for creative self-expression—echoed in Thailand, where platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become launching pads for new voices in fashion, activism, and entertainment. About 52% of U.S. teens, and similar proportions of their Thai peers, say social apps help them feel accepted or supported during tough times. However, this share is down from 67% in 2022, suggesting positive effects may be waning. At the same time, “drama,” exclusion, and pressure to post popular content still weigh on many teens—39% of U.S. teens report feeling overwhelmed, and smaller but significant shares feel pressured or left out.
Intriguingly, many teens now rely on social media for mental health information: 34% say they at least sometimes turn to platforms like TikTok or Instagram for support or advice. Among these, two-thirds see social media as an “important” resource. Thai teens, too, often use online groups or influencers as their first port of call for emotional help, sometimes preferring anonymity and peer support over traditional counseling services (The Nation). However, experts in both countries warn that misinformation, commercial bias, and unregulated advice pose real dangers.
The gender divide is pronounced and persistent. Teen girls report both more negative experiences with social media and greater efforts to limit their use, but also higher levels of emotional openness and engagement with mental health content. For example, 25% of girls said social media had hurt their mental health, compared to 14% of boys. Girls also report more sleep disruption, lost confidence, feelings of exclusion, and pressure to maintain social status. Yet they also more often find support and creative outlets online—an important reminder that social media’s impact is rarely one-dimensional.
For Thai parents and educators, these findings offer both warning and opportunity. The Pew report’s central message—rising caution among youth about the risks of social media—demands a multi-level response. Thai schools have begun to introduce digital literacy courses and social-emotional learning modules, and the Office of the Basic Education Commission has piloted partnerships with mental health nonprofits to train teachers on identifying online-related stress and depression. Yet stigma, underfunding, and a lack of counselors still hamper efforts: the ratio of school psychologists to students remains far below the recommended standard, and many rural schools lack any dedicated support. NGOs such as the Mirror Foundation have stepped in with “cyber volunteers,” but scale remains an issue.
Critically, the Pew study also reveals that most teens see the influence of social media as neutral for their mental health (50%) and academic performance (51%). But even a small increase in the share who feel harmed translates to thousands of at-risk youth in a country as populous as Thailand. Historical trends suggest that whenever a new technology becomes central to teen life—whether television, smartphones, or messaging apps—public concern spikes before regulations, education, and cultural adaptation gradually respond.
Looking ahead, both American and Thai societies face the challenge of maximizing social media’s connective and creative potential while minimizing its psychological risks. Recent global research points to practical steps: promoting “screen hygiene” by setting device-free time before bed, limiting exposure to online drama and cyberbullying, and encouraging in-person friendships and offline hobbies. At the same time, empowering teens to critically evaluate—and, where necessary, curate—their own digital environments has shown promise in improving well-being (American Psychological Association).
For policymakers, the urgency is to craft regulation that balances youth protection with digital inclusion. Laws targeting excessive advertising, privacy breaches, or cyberbullying must include mechanisms for youth input, while tech companies should be pushed to invest in safer digital spaces and more robust reporting tools. For parents, fostering open dialogue and modeling healthy digital habits are crucial. As Dr. Voranuch Chantarawong, a child psychiatrist at Ramathibodi Hospital, advises: “Parents should try to understand their child’s experiences online—instead of just restricting usage, engage in co-browsing, discuss online dilemmas, and reinforce positive identity both on- and offline.”
At the community level, Thai cultural traditions—emphasizing family bonds (ความสัมพันธ์ในครอบครัว), group cohesion, and spiritual well-being (สุขภาวะทางจิตวิญญาณ)—may provide a bedrock for building resilience. Recent temple-based youth mental health programs in northern Thailand have shown that integrating mindfulness training and digital detox retreats with family and peer support can help bridge the gap between old and new ways of caring for young people.
In conclusion, as Thai society navigates the rapid digital transformation of its youth, the lessons from Pew Research Center’s U.S. findings are clear: vigilance and compassion are both needed. Encourage open conversations, build digital and emotional literacy, strengthen school-based support systems, and demand that tech companies and lawmakers play their part. The stakes of teen mental health—online and offline—are simply too high to ignore.
For parents and teens seeking practical guidance, consider these steps: set limits on screen time, especially before sleep; encourage device-free family meals or outings; seek out digital literacy workshops (some available through Thai Health Promotion Foundation or local NGOs); and, importantly, check in regularly and listen without judgment. Remember, in both America and Thailand, a caring adult remains the strongest safeguard against the harms of the digital world.
Sources:
- Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media and Mental Health (Full Report)
- Bangkok Post: Thai teens struggling with mental health
- Thai Health Watch: Digital health trends
- The Nation: Online peer support for Thai teens
- American Psychological Association: Social media and adolescent mental health
- World Health Organization: Adolescent health