A viral social media trend known as “I Grieve Different” is captivating young audiences across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, raising both alarm and hope among mental health professionals and educators. While the trend offers young people a space to explore their feelings of loss and struggle, it has also sparked fresh concern among experts about whether social media is fueling unhealthy behaviors and distorting the realities of mental health—especially among teens. For Thai families navigating the digital era, understanding the impact of such trends has never been more important.
The “I Grieve Different” movement originates from rapper Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 track “United in Grief” but has since evolved far beyond the song’s themes. Online, Thai and global youth alike are sharing stylized videos depicting not just personal losses but body image struggles, anxiety, and even their relationships with food or exercise. The recurring message: their way of experiencing grief is unique, and perhaps misunderstood by others. Such content resonates against a backdrop where mental health issues are on the rise worldwide—including Thailand, where the Ministry of Public Health has reported increasing rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents (Bangkok Post, UNICEF Thailand).
What makes “I Grieve Different” uniquely potent—and problematic—are the mixed ways in which grief and pain are communicated. Some posts offer genuine insight into personal hardship. Others, however, aestheticize suffering in a quest for social validation or online attention. A registered dietitian active on TikTok, whose analysis features in a recent report by Parents magazine (Parents.com), expressed concern about videos in which teenage girls pair “healthy” habits with the consequences of extreme dieting: “I don’t have a period," “I have extremely low bone density,” “I have to get iron transfusions”—all signals of potentially severe eating disorders.
Mental health counselor Monique Bellefleur (LMHC) warns that such disclosures, presented as humorous or relatable, risk normalizing dangerous symptoms. “Eating disorders and other mental health struggles deserve deeper discussion and consideration than a TikTok trend can offer,” she emphasized. Bellefleur points out that these platforms’ fast-paced feeds and algorithms may encourage adolescents already navigating self-esteem challenges to internalize narrow standards of beauty and health—and to compare themselves relentlessly with others. Thailand, where beauty ideals linked to skin tone and body weight frequently surface in public discourse (BBC Thai), is not immune to such global-longstanding social pressures.
Dr. Lara Zibarras, a psychologist specializing in eating disorder recovery, highlights further risk: “Teens may scroll past these posts thinking, ‘same,’ without realizing how serious the behaviors actually are. It makes illness seem normal or even aspirational.” For her and her peers, the core issue lies in how identity-shaping and the quest for peer acceptance are amplified by social media’s instant—yet sometimes superficial—community. As Dr. Zibarras noted, “I’ve had clients tell me they didn’t realize they had disordered eating because everyone else online was doing the same thing.”
For parents and educators in Thailand, where smartphone and social media use among youth is ubiquitous (ETDA Thailand), the trend serves as a wake-up call to be vigilant for behavioral changes: avoiding favorite foods, skipping meals, changes in eating with the family, or negative shifts in mood or interest. Direct communication, rather than criticism or lectures, is essential. “Don’t lecture! Instead ask how they’re feeling, what they’re seeing online, and whether anything is making them feel anxious about food or their body. Curiosity and connection will go much further than criticism,” Dr. Zibarras advised.
Bellefleur also recommends parents encourage critical thinking about online content: “Is this lifestyle realistic? Am I seeing the whole picture? How does this content make me feel?” Such questions help teens resist social media’s most extreme or misleading messages. Thai cultural resilience—rooted in strong family bonds and local community networks—can serve as a protective factor if nurtured effectively.
Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Malika Closson, consulting for digital mental health startup Freespira, underscores the importance of staying informed about online trends and providing a safe space for open dialogue. Warning signs for parents to watch out for include increased isolation, sudden changes in sleep habits, flagging academic performance, or a withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities.
Despite these concerns, Dr. Closson acknowledges that trends like “I Grieve Different” can have positive roots. The desire to find kinship—to feel less alone in pain or confusion—is universal, and young people may be trying to connect with others facing similar challenges. For example, one TikTok user might share the happiness of starting summer vacation, tempered by anxiety over working a full-time job; another might open up about excitement over a new relationship, balanced by fear of vulnerability. In these stories, a nuanced narrative emerges: resilience exists alongside struggle.
For Thai adolescents, who already face fierce academic competition, rapid urbanization, and family expectations, striking a balance between healthy online self-expression and harmful comparison is tricky. Social media is an inseparable part of youth life, with a 2023 ETDA survey finding over 94% of Thai children aged 10-17 use the Internet daily—most frequently for social networking and entertainment (ETDA Thailand). What’s posted online does not always reflect reality. As Bellefleur points out, “What social media doesn’t show is whether that image is edited, what that person might be sacrificing to achieve their ‘perfect’ body, or how their obsession with a high-protein diet is affecting their mental health.”
Research published in journals like the International Journal of Eating Disorders has repeatedly drawn links between digital media exposure and disordered eating patterns (PubMed). According to one Thai study, nearly 30% of surveyed secondary school students expressed dissatisfaction with their body weight, a problem correlated with frequent social media activity (Thai Journal of Public Health). Consequently, trends such as “I Grieve Different” can inadvertently encourage at-risk behavior if viewers interpret symptoms of serious illness as ordinary, or even desirable.
That said, Thailand’s growing focus on mental health education and digital literacy gives hope. Recent Ministry of Education reforms mandate life skills education, while public campaigns aim to destigmatize depression and anxiety (Bangkok Post). After all, grief—be it from loss, rejection, or personal setbacks—is a universal Thai experience, found not just in youth but throughout Buddhist teachings and everyday language. How young people process and find meaning in their grief is evolving with the digital age.
Looking forward, media experts and clinicians recommend a multi-pronged approach for families and schools: promoting safe spaces for discussion, increasing digital literacy, and encouraging offline activities that build self-esteem and belonging. For Thai households, practical steps might include setting limits on screen time, seeking out positive role models (including local celebrities who speak openly about mental health), and involving children in community or temple activities where self-worth is not tied to physical appearance.
Parents should trust their instincts, stay informed about what their children are watching online, and prioritize ongoing, judgment-free communication. Most importantly, if teens show signs of depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, professional help should be sought early. Organizations like the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute and NGOs such as the Samaritans of Thailand offer resources and support in Thai for both parents and youth.
In the end, the message of “I Grieve Different” can remind us that every individual’s journey is unique—but also that there is no weakness in seeking help. With digital trends constantly evolving, Thailand’s challenge is to adapt its cultural strengths and community values for a new era of online connection—and vulnerability.
For further reading and updates on mental health, youth welfare, and digital trends in Thailand, consult official sources such as the Thai Ministry of Public Health (moph.go.th), UNICEF Thailand (unicef.org/thailand), and regularly updated news features on mental health from the Bangkok Post (Bangkok Post Health).