A new wave of research shows Thailand’s Gen Z spends long hours online, and heavy screen time is linked to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and even suicidality. Thai researchers and national statistics converge on a critical question: how can communities shield the next generation from a digital health emergency?
An influential editorial, Saving Our Kids from Scrolling to Death, highlights how smartphones and online platforms shape today’s youth. This view aligns with international findings and Thailand’s own data, underscoring a global shift with local consequences.
Thailand’s 2024 data reveal striking realities: over 99% of Gen Z has mobile and internet access, with near-universal social media use. YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) dominate. Thai youths average more than 12 hours online daily—the highest among major age groups. Online time offers learning and connection but also increases risks when used for passive scrolling and social comparison.
Social media can enhance language skills, career exploration, and self-expression. Yet evidence from Thailand shows consistent links between excessive use and mental health strain. A Digital Insights Thailand 2024 report found more than half of Gen Z reported mood disturbances related to social platforms, with many describing pressure from constant comparison. Alarmingly, many youths say quitting is difficult even when they want to.
This pattern mirrors global trends. Experts describe the digital environment as a powerful force shaping youth well-being—comparable to addictive substances. A growing body of research associates problematic screen use with depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, and disordered eating. A recent Chinese adolescent study noted that mobile phone addiction correlated with negative emotions, even after accounting for family and urban-rural differences.
Thai research reinforces these concerns. Reviews of high school cohorts link smartphone dependence to sleep disruption, academic stress, family tension, and social withdrawal. A key study identified excessive phone use as a predictor of stress, especially for youths with low self-esteem and limited resilience.
Experts emphasize that these trends go beyond willpower or parenting. Social platforms are designed to maximize engagement with endless feeds and variable rewards, challenging even mature teens’ self-regulation. Parental controls may have limited impact if other content remains accessible or if apps aimed at younger users still expose teens to mature material.
The issue is worsened by harmful online content. Global and local safety groups warn of networks that expose minors to exploitation, eating‑disorder propaganda, and self-harm content. Thai NGOs report rising incidents of online harassment and cyberbullying, often facilitated by widely used apps.
Policy responses around the world offer ideas for Thailand. Some countries have raised the minimum age for social media use, expanded school-based digital literacy, or held platforms more accountable for content. Thai authorities and educators are calling for stronger frameworks that balance opportunity with protection.
Culturally, the digital shift reshapes family life, schooling, and community bonds in Thailand. Parents and elders once provided guidance, but adolescents now frequently seek validation online. This change makes supervision harder but also opens pathways for positive, age-appropriate digital literacy.
Experts recommend multi-layered actions:
- National and local policy: Strengthen age verification, parental guidance support, and school-based digital literacy. Consider policies that set clearer expectations for platform use and content moderation.
- Family education: Promote positive digital role modeling and designated screen-free times to foster connection. Provide practical strategies for digital supervision and emotional coaching.
- School-based supports: Integrate digital literacy, media ethics, and mental health literacy into curricula. Teach students to recognize signs of digital dependence and how to seek help.
- Community initiatives: Support family-led programs that delay smartphone access or promote balanced tech use. Encourage youth clubs and offline activities that build social bonds and resilience.
- Targeted support: Expand access to affordable mental health care and enriching offline activities for rural and underserved youth through cross-sector partnerships.
- Resilience-building: Emphasize physical activity, creative play, and in-person friendships as part of daily life and national education goals. Public campaigns can shift norms toward healthier digital habits.
For Thai families: start with small, practical steps at home. Create tech-free zones or times, foster open conversations about online experiences, and encourage offline hobbies and friendships. Support schools’ efforts to promote digital well-being and push for policies that protect children while preserving digital opportunities.
Thailand’s blend of tradition, family values, and community spirit can guide a healthier digital future. As communities adapt, the aim is to build a “digital home” that nurtures growth rather than diminishes it.
Technology is here to stay. The question is how we shape its role for youth—balancing access with protection, opportunity with resilience, and online exploration with offline connection.