#DigitalAddiction

A recent wave of psychiatric hospitalizations in the United States and elsewhere has drawn attention to a disturbing new phenomenon: individuals experiencing a severe break with reality—a condition some psychiatrists and families are calling “ChatGPT psychosis”—after extended, intense interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots. As stories surface of people spiraling into delusional thinking, family breakdown, job loss, and even involuntary psychiatric committal linked to their use of conversational bots like ChatGPT, Thai mental health professionals and policymakers are taking note of the risks these digital tools might pose for vulnerable populations in Thailand and across Asia.

A major new study has found that teenagers who report addictive patterns of using social media, mobile phones, or video games are at up to triple the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to their peers, reigniting ongoing debate about the mental health impacts of digital technology. The research, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is among the first to track young people over several years, specifically examining the relationship between compulsive screen use and suicidality rather than looking only at overall time spent online (The Guardian, NPR, The New York Times, Neuroscience News).

A wave of new research warns that children who report “addictive” behaviour patterns with their online activities—including social media, mobile phones, and video games—face significantly greater risks for mental health problems than peers who engage less compulsively. A landmark 2025 study, previously highlighted in the Financial Times, demonstrates that the danger is not simply about the total hours spent online, but rather how compulsive or addictive a young person’s engagement has become, dramatically altering the conversation around digital wellbeing and youth mental health.

A new study has revealed that problematic pornography use tends to remain stable over time and is strongly associated with mental distress, reshaping the way health experts and policymakers perceive the issue and its impact, including in Thailand’s increasingly digital society. The findings bring attention to the ongoing debate about the effects of online pornography, especially its potentially serious implications on mental health, societal well-being, and youth development.

The report, as summarised in PsyPost, highlights that while rates of problematic pornography use do not appear to be rapidly increasing in the population, individuals who already struggle with compulsive pornography consumption tend to maintain these patterns. Crucially, the research draws a clear link between problematic use and higher rates of mental distress, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotional instability.

A sweeping new analysis is sounding the alarm over children’s growing dependence on digital devices as their primary way to handle difficult emotions—a habit with far-reaching consequences for mental health and development. Dubbed the age of the “digital pacifier,” researchers warn that screens aren’t just a symptom of modern life but a central piece of a self-defeating cycle among kids around the world, including in Thailand, where daily screen time continues to trend upward. The findings, released in the journal Psychological Bulletin and summarized in recent reports such as StudyFinds.org, urge families and educators to rethink the role of screens in children’s emotional lives, especially as global averages climb above healthy limits and more Thai children access devices at unprecedented rates.

A fresh wave of research and practical advice is emerging for those hoping to swap the comfort of phone scrolling for the energizing benefits of physical movement—a trend with urgent relevance for Thais of all ages as smartphone use, sedentary work and study, and stressful news cycles become daily realities. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Diana Hill and movement specialist Katy Bowman, co-authors of “I Know I Should Exercise But… 44 Reasons We Don’t Move and How to Get Over Them,” habitual screen use—especially when we’re stressed or tired—can subtly trap us in cycles of fleeting dopamine rewards, leaving us craving ever more screen time and less inclined to break out for a walk, a stretch, or a dance session. But their message, backed by findings in neuroscience and behavioral therapy, is hopeful: with practice and a few novel strategies, it is possible to retrain your brain to yearn for movement instead of another scroll through Facebook or TikTok (full report: KCBX/NPR).