Concerns are mounting globally and in Thailand over the growing impact of social media on youth mental health, as the latest research warns of increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues strongly linked to digital engagement. Amid calls for regulatory interventions, parental vigilance, and enhanced media literacy, the rising tide of evidence signals the need for urgent action to protect the well-being of the next generation.
The rapid rise in social media usage among children and teenagers is reshaping traditional childhood experiences while spawning new psychological risks. A recent press call by the Kids Code Coalition – highlighted in a KRCR News Channel 7 report – drew attention to mounting concerns, featuring advocates pushing for warning labels on social media platforms similar to those required for tobacco or alcohol. The coalition cited a surge in mental health crises coinciding with expanded social media use, particularly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In practical terms, education leaders report more frequent behavioral problems emerging at increasingly younger ages. According to a Shasta County Superintendent of Schools, behavioral challenges previously seen in high school students are now occurring among their middle-school peers, while issues typical of middle school are surfacing even earlier. “There’s always going to be challenges sometimes when you throw student behavior into a school setting, but what we are seeing is that behaviors are intensifying and that they are earlier… What you might have seen in high school are now middle school behaviors and what you saw in middle school is what you’re seeing in maybe early elementary,” explained the superintendent, emphasizing that escalating digital stress is affecting the social and emotional development of children well before adolescence.
The coalition’s recommendations include balancing media use with proactive parental involvement, fostering conversations at home, and promoting media literacy in schools to help youth navigate online spaces safely. Nonetheless, efforts to have social media platforms display health warnings—akin to those on nicotine products—have so far met with resistance from major technology companies.
These concerns are reinforced by emerging scientific studies. A 2025 publication found social media addiction significantly linked to adolescent loneliness, with the effect mediated by growing feelings of hopelessness (PubMed). Another comprehensive review of “internet addiction disorder” highlights a dramatic worldwide increase in digital dependency over the past two decades, now recognized as a major public health issue (PubMed 2025). A recent Pew Research Center survey showed that nearly half of American teenagers now perceive social media as detrimental to youth mental health, a finding echoed in CNN’s report. Parents, for their part, remain even more apprehensive.
The Thai experience is similarly alarming. A 2024 analysis of Thai adolescents identified social media as a significant contributor to youth anxiety, suggesting that constant connectivity and digital affirmation-seeking may intensify emotional distress (JEIM Journal). Another Thai study linked smartphone addiction and low self-esteem to an increased risk of depression and stress among secondary students (Mahidol University Public Health Journal). The sharp climb in internet usage, with over 85% of Thai youth regularly online, presents unique challenges for Thai families and educators (Prudential Thailand).
Expert commentary within Thailand underscores the cultural and academic pressures which compound the digital burden. According to a public health official at a Bangkok-based youth mental health center, “Thai teens already face intense expectations from family and society. Social media adds another layer—peer judgements, cyberbullying, unrealistic portrayals of success—that can be devastating.” The official points to cases where social media has served as a conduit for both positive connection and harmful comparison, emphasizing the need for resilience-building and critical thinking skills within the national education curriculum.
Parents and teachers are not alone in grappling with this rapidly evolving issue. The Shasta County Office of Education in the United States is planning dedicated forums on balancing screen time and child development—an initiative Thai educational institutions may find valuable to replicate. Media literacy programmes in Western schools, for instance, teach students to critically evaluate digital content, recognize the signs of cyberbullying, and practice self-care, providing a template for possible Thai adoption.
Culturally, the rise in social media’s influence sits uncomfortably with traditional Thai values of “jai yen” (cool heart) and face-to-face community support. The digital age can disrupt communal harmony, replacing it with isolated, sometimes toxic, online interactions. While social networks can foster new forms of community, they also introduce cyberbullying and addictive content loops, which research shows exacerbates mental health challenges.
Looking ahead, experts anticipate digital-native generations in Thailand and worldwide will become even more enmeshed in virtual realities, shaping identity and social interaction. The challenge for Thai society—and governments everywhere—is to ensure that mental health support keeps pace. This includes expanded access to counseling services, updated digital literacy education, and new legal protections for vulnerable youth, as well as guidance for parents and carers in managing young people’s digital lives.
For Thai parents and educators, the way forward involves proactive engagement: monitor online activity, keep communication channels open, educate adolescents about the risks of comparison and cyberbullying, and seek professional help when warning signs appear—such as withdrawal, mood swings, declining academic performance, or obsession with online affirmation. The Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Education are urged to step up their support for family-based interventions and promote dialogue among communities to address the youth mental health crisis in tandem with the country’s digital transformation.
For Thai youth, setting practical rules—like limiting screen time before bed, following pages that promote well-being, and regularly unplugging for real-world interactions—can help prevent digital overwhelm. Schools might consider incorporating mindfulness and media management into health education, cultivating a more balanced and informed generation.
In summary, the convergence of growing international research and local surveys points unequivocally to the urgent need for a collective response to the risks social media poses to youth mental health. As Thailand’s digital landscape continues to shift, the nation’s ability to preserve the mental well-being of its future citizens will depend on coordinated action by parents, educators, policymakers, and—critically—the young people themselves.
Sources: KRCR News Channel 7, Pew Research Center, CNN, Mahidol University Public Health Journal, Prudential Thailand, JEIM Journal, PubMed.