#ParentalGuidance

Recent attention has focused on the formative practices instilled in Japanese children, revealing cultural foundations that foster discipline, empathy, and a sense of community. Drawing from a recent article, “10 things Japanese children are taught in childhood” published by the Times of India (source), as well as supporting research and educational policy reviews, this report unpacks these quintessentially Japanese values, examines their impact, and explores lessons for Thai families and educators.

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 wave of online gambling is sweeping through high schools, with students increasingly drawn to virtual poker tables and digital casinos—a trend raising serious alarms among educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers worldwide. Recent first-hand reporting by the New York Post underscores how students, some as young as 14, are losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in online poker games, often facilitated by easily accessible gambling apps and weak age verification systems. According to a University of Pennsylvania study cited in the report, 2.9 million adolescents in the United States are involved in gambling, with 580,000 playing online. These numbers spotlight a risky phenomenon not confined to the West but resonating globally, including here in Thailand, where digital platforms are increasingly threading into youths’ social lives and leisure activities (New York Post).