#Cyberbullying

A major international study warns that receiving a smartphone before age 13, especially for girls, may raise the risk of mental health challenges later on. The research analyzed more than 100,000 young adults aged 18 to 24 and highlights a digital dilemma for Thai families navigating rapid online change. Findings are supported by commentary from a leading U.S. broadcaster and underscore the need for Thailand to assess early device access and its long-term effects.

A groundbreaking international study has found that children who own smartphones before the age of 13—especially girls—face a significantly higher risk of developing mental health issues in later life. This research, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities and highlighted by ABC News, analyzed more than 100,000 young adults aged 18 to 24, shedding urgent light on a digital dilemma that increasingly resonates with Thai families navigating the rapid shift to online lifestyles (ABC News report).

A new UK law requiring age verification on pornography sites aims to shield minors, but safety experts warn it may push curious teens toward riskier corners of the internet. Critics say stricter checks could drive youth to smaller sites with fewer safeguards, potentially increasing exposure to criminal exploitation and harmful content. As policymakers and parents debate how to protect children while recognizing young people’s online realities, the discussion has gained global relevance, including for Thailand.

The United Kingdom has implemented robust age verification requirements on pornography websites in a bid to protect minors, but experts are warning that these efforts might inadvertently push curious teenagers toward more dangerous corners of the internet, potentially increasing their exposure to criminal exploitation and harmful content. As the new law came into effect, discussions intensified among policymakers, internet safety advocates, and parents about how to balance digital child protection with the real-world behaviors of tech-savvy youth and the internet’s borderless nature (Huffington Post UK).

A global study links smartphone use before age 13 to higher risks of mental health challenges, with girls showing greater vulnerability. The research highlights lower self-esteem, difficulties with emotional regulation, and increased thoughts related to self-harm. The findings, published in a respected developmental science journal, resonate with Thai families as device ownership rises and online connections deepen.

The analysis combines mental health data from nearly two million individuals across more than 160 countries, with strong participation from Asia. It reinforces concerns that early smartphone use exposes children to social media pressure, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep. Each year earlier that a child gets a phone before 13 correlates with a further decline in overall well-being, underscoring a link between early exposure and psychological strain.

A groundbreaking global study has found that children who begin using smartphones before the age of 13 face a significantly increased risk of mental health challenges—especially young girls—with consequences including lower self-esteem, difficulty managing emotions, and even suicidal thoughts. The findings, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities and covered by media including Euronews, ABC News, and KHOU, are sending ripples through families, educators, and policymakers in Thailand as smartphone uptake among children soars.

A recent analysis has shed new light on the profound psychological impact of viral shame and online outrage, revealing that the aftermath of public scandal can inflict deeper, more lasting trauma than the scandalous event itself. As digital outrage continues to shape public discourse worldwide, Thai society is increasingly wrestling with the health and social ramifications of cyber-shaming and its devastating consequences for individuals and families.

The report, highlighted in Psychology Today under the title “The Real Scandal Isn’t the Affair—It’s Our Reaction”, argues that the real damage often emerges not from an initial act—such as an affair—but from the crushing wave of public condemnation that follows when personal failings go viral. The authors point to a growing body of psychological research showing that the experience of internet-driven shaming can be deeply traumatic, leaving victims more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and social withdrawal than the transgression itself.

A fresh analysis shows that viral shame can inflict more enduring trauma than the transgression itself. As digital anger shapes public discourse, Thai communities are increasingly confronting the health and social consequences of cyber-shaming for individuals and families.

The study, highlighted in a prominent psychology feature, argues that damage often comes not from the act but from the wave of public condemnation that follows when personal failures go viral. Research cited in the piece indicates internet-driven shaming can trigger anxiety, depression, PTSD-like symptoms, and social withdrawal that surpass the impact of the original behavior.

A major new study has confirmed a troubling link: as preteens spend more time on social media, their risk of experiencing depressive symptoms rises significantly—a finding with profound implications for parents, educators, and policymakers in Thailand and around the world. The longitudinal research, published in JAMA Network Open and conducted by a team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), tracked nearly 12,000 children over three years and delivered the strongest evidence yet that increased screen time can actually cause later depression in youth, not just reflect existing mood changes. For a country like Thailand, where smartphone and social media penetration among youth have soared, these findings raise urgent questions about digital wellbeing and mental health support for the next generation.

A major study confirms a troubling link: as preteens spend more time on social media, their risk of depressive symptoms rises. This finding matters for Thai families, teachers, and policymakers aiming to safeguard young people’s mental health in a digital age.

Researchers from UCSF analyzed data from a large, long-term study of nearly 12,000 children, following them from ages 9–10 into early adolescence. They found that daily social media use increased from about seven minutes to 73 minutes over three years, while depressive symptoms rose by about 35 percent. Importantly, the study shows that greater social media engagement precedes increases in depressive symptoms, suggesting the online environment itself can influence mood, not just reflect existing struggles. In Thailand, where smartphone use among youth is widespread, these findings prompt urgent questions about digital wellbeing and support systems in schools and communities.

A major new study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has found a significant association between increased social media use and rising depression rates among young adolescents—a finding that is especially relevant as Thai families grapple with the impact of digital technology on youth mental health. The research, published this week and covered by KQED, tracked nearly 12,000 children and adolescents nationwide over several years and revealed that their social media usage rose sharply between the ages of 9 and 13, paralleled by a concerning 30% uptick in reported depressive symptoms during the same period.

A major study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) finds a significant link between growing social media use and rising depression among young adolescents. The findings are highly relevant for Thai families navigating the impact of digital technology on youth mental health. The research followed nearly 12,000 children and teenagers over several years and showed sharp increases in social media use between ages 9 and 13, coinciding with a 30% rise in reported depressive symptoms.

A growing body of research shows social media is taking a toll on young people’s mental health worldwide, including in Thailand. Experts link rising depression, anxiety, and other distress signals to digital engagement. Regulators, parents, and schools are being urged to act now with stronger media literacy, healthier online habits, and safer platform design.

The surge in social media use among children and teens is reshaping childhood experiences and introducing new psychological risks. A recent briefing by the Kids Code Coalition highlighted in national media coverage, where advocates called for warning labels on social apps similar to tobacco or alcohol disclosures. The coalition points to an uptick in mental health crises that coincides with greater online activity, especially after the pandemic.

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.

A growing body of research suggests that children who bully others share more similarities with their victims than commonly thought, with both groups facing heightened risks of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even future difficulties in adulthood. This pattern also holds true in Thailand, where bullying—whether in the classroom, online gaming communities, or even at home—remains a persistent challenge, deeply intertwined with the nation’s education and mental health systems.

The latest findings highlighted by a Clemson University psychology professor reveal that traditional bullying (physical or verbal aggression in person) and cyberbullying (harassment via digital platforms) often overlap, amplifying the negative outcomes for all children involved. Both bullies and victims are more likely to suffer poor academic performance, increased absenteeism, and, alarmingly, higher rates of suicidal thoughts. “It’s bidirectional,” reports the Clemson researcher, who explains that a child’s mental health troubles both set the stage for bullying behavior and are worsened by involvement in bullying, no matter the role (Deseret News).

New research shows that children who bully others share striking similarities with their peers who are bullied. Both groups face higher risks of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and challenges later in life. In Thailand, bullying happens in classrooms, online gaming communities, and even at home, highlighting its deep ties to education and mental health systems.

A Clemson University psychologist notes that traditional bullying and cyberbullying often overlap. The result is worse outcomes for all involved. Both bullies and victims can see lower academic performance, more absences, and increased thoughts of self-harm. The researcher describes this as bidirectional: mental health problems can fuel bullying, and involvement in bullying can worsen those problems, regardless of who initiates it.

In the digital age, Thai parents are bombarded with advice about using parental controls, but new research and expert consensus confirm an unsettling truth: no matter how diligent parents are, technology’s current safeguards fall short of genuinely protecting children online. This reality, revealed by recent studies and policy debates, underscores a growing call for government and industry accountability, echoing urgent lessons from the United States that resonate strongly with Thailand’s increasingly tech-centric society (Inquirer).

In Thailand’s connected world, parental controls are everywhere. Yet new research and expert consensus show a hard truth: even the best parental vigilance cannot fully shield children from online risks. This reality calls for greater accountability from governments and industry, echoing lessons from global debates that resonate with Thailand’s tech-driven households and schools.

Thai parents juggle screens, apps, and games across multiple devices. Tools such as screen-time limits, content filters, and monitoring apps help, but trusted researchers warn they offer only partial protection. A growing concern is that unofficial control apps can threaten privacy and are often bypassed by tech-savvy youths. While these findings come from international sources, they are increasingly relevant as Thailand expands its digital infrastructure in homes and classrooms.

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)

A new global survey highlights a shift in how teens view social media. While most U.S. teens say these platforms help them stay connected, nearly half now believe social media often harms people their age. The results, published in April 2025, come amid growing concern about youth mental health in highly connected societies. For Thailand, where smartphone use among young people is among the highest worldwide, these findings raise important questions about risks and opportunities in the digital era.