#SocialMedia

A new analysis suggests personality traits help explain why educated people sometimes adopt extreme wellness trends. The finding matters because these trends can harm health and spread misinformation online (The Conversation).

Wellness fads now spread fast on social media. Some trends pose real risks like raw diets or dangerous unproven therapies. Others remain harmless but lead followers toward more extreme beliefs. The Conversation review links these patterns to two personality traits in the Big Five model.

Revolutionary psychological research has identified specific personality traits that make highly educated Thai professionals particularly vulnerable to potentially harmful wellness trends, revealing why intelligence and advanced degrees provide no protection against health misinformation that can lead to serious medical complications. The findings expose how legitimate curiosity and social values become manipulated by sophisticated marketing campaigns that target Thailand’s most accomplished citizens.

The research carries urgent implications for Thailand’s healthcare system and digital media landscape, where wellness influencers increasingly target educated urban professionals through psychologically sophisticated campaigns that exploit natural human tendencies toward exploration and community connection. These targeting strategies have proven remarkably effective at convincing doctors, engineers, university professors, and other highly trained professionals to adopt unproven health practices that may compromise their wellbeing.

A 15-year-old’s confession that she stumbled on her father’s anonymous Reddit posts — private-seeming messages that aired resentment toward his partner, guilt about parenthood and even sharp words about his daughter — has drawn fresh attention to a little-studied but increasingly common family fault line: what happens when parents use the internet as an emotional diary in a household where children share devices. The Slate advice column that published the teenager’s letter framed the dilemma as both a privacy breach and a worrying red flag for parental mental health; researchers say the episode is precisely the kind of everyday encounter that illuminates how family communication, adolescent wellbeing and online culture now overlap in complex ways (Slate). Recent psychology research on adolescent information management, studies of online parenting communities and public-health guidance on social media suggest that the consequences can be serious — for teens who feel forced into an adult role and for parents who use public platforms to vent without support.

In an era dominated by scrolling, posting, and the intoxicating chase for likes, a growing body of psychology research suggests that those who still keep private journals possess five distinct psychological qualities rarely found in the average social media user. As digital sharing becomes almost obligatory for many—whether for meals, milestones, or even moments of grief—the decision to reach for a notebook instead of a smartphone says far more about the mind than simple nostalgia.

Groundbreaking psychological research demonstrates that individuals who maintain private journals develop five distinct mental attributes that set them apart from typical social media users, offering crucial insights for Thailand’s digitally saturated society where online connectivity rates rank among the world’s highest yet mental health concerns continue escalating. As digital sharing becomes increasingly compulsive for meals, milestones, and personal moments, the conscious choice to write privately rather than post publicly reveals profound psychological differences that impact emotional resilience, authentic self-expression, and long-term wellbeing in ways that challenge contemporary assumptions about digital communication benefits.

Thailand’s young generation confronts an invisible epidemic as excessive digital consumption fundamentally alters brain structure and function, creating widespread cognitive decline that educators, parents, and health officials across the kingdom can no longer ignore. Revolutionary neuroscience research demonstrates that prolonged exposure to social media, gaming, and superficial online content produces measurable deterioration in memory, critical thinking abilities, and emotional regulation among adolescents and young adults. This phenomenon, recently dubbed “brain rot” and selected as Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, represents far more than generational anxiety—it signals a genuine neurological crisis threatening Thailand’s educational achievements and economic competitiveness.

A wave of digital overload is sweeping through the world’s youth, and Thailand is no exception. Recent neuroscience research reveals that excessive social media, gaming, and screen time can harm memory, impair critical thinking, and leave young people feeling fatigued, unfocused, and emotionally detached. As Thais of all ages spend more time glued to screens, new findings provide urgent insights—and practical steps—to guard our brains in the digital age.

The term “brain rot,” notably named Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, has rapidly entered global consciousness to describe the subtle yet significant meltdown of cognitive capacities linked to the overconsumption of digital content, particularly that which is superficial or emotionally distressing. For Thai society—where mobile internet penetration is among Asia’s highest and app-based lifestyles are ubiquitous—the risk and reality of this phenomenon present far-reaching implications for education, mental health, and even national productivity.

A recent psychological study has revealed that individuals who experience high levels of boredom are more susceptible to developing social media addiction, raising fresh concerns about the digital habits of Thais amid the nation’s ever-growing use of online platforms. As social media continues to permeate daily life in Thailand—where platforms like Facebook, Line, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok are nearly ubiquitous—the findings provide critical insight for educators, health professionals, and policy makers seeking to promote healthy technology engagement.

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 wave of fitness culture and social media influence has driven increasing numbers of men—including many in their 20s and 30s—to use testosterone supplements in pursuit of enhanced masculinity, muscle gain, and sexual vitality. However, recent research and expert warnings are raising red flags: these supplements, widely marketed as a path to becoming an ‘alpha male,’ can actually cause infertility, with potentially irreversible effects.

Across gyms and online platforms in Thailand and worldwide, testosterone boosters—ranging from herbal products to powerful hormone injections—are being promoted as quick solutions for increased strength, confidence, and libido. This market boom has been further fuelled by aggressive advertising, gym trainer recommendations, and the influence of fitness influencers online. Yet, experts are cautioning that the promised benefits may come at the cost of a man’s future ability to father children, and that misuse can have wider health implications (NDTV).

A growing body of research, supported by recent personal narratives, is challenging the notion that being alone is synonymous with loneliness—offering hope and practical strategies for Thais grappling with these feelings in a hyper-connected world. Drawing from recent evidence and expert analysis, the new perspectives suggest that learning to appreciate solitude, rather than fearing it, can not only ease feelings of invisibility but also boost overall mental well-being.

The significance of this evolving understanding is underscored by both lived experience and hard data. As recounted in a popular piece published by VegOut Magazine, the author describes a journey from feeling “invisible” in crowds or isolated with only social media for company, to actively embracing solo time as a source of self-knowledge and fulfillment. The article draws on the Harvard Making Caring Common project’s research, revealing that 36% of Americans report “serious loneliness”, including 61% of young adults—most strikingly, many are not physically isolated but feel emotionally disconnected even among friends and family vegoutmag.com, mcc.gse.harvard.edu/loneliness-project.

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.

The rapid rise of mental health conversations on social media has brought newfound openness to a previously stigmatized subject. Yet, alongside this positive trend is a surge of misinformation that experts warn can worsen confusion, delay proper help, and even cause harm. The challenge for Thais—especially millions of digital-savvy youth navigating platforms from Facebook to TikTok—is to distinguish helpful, evidence-based advice from misleading, sometimes dangerous myths. This report explains why mental health misinformation online is an escalating problem, the risks it poses, and what can be done to stay safe and informed.

Across the world and in Thailand, the adolescent years can often feel like a season of distance between parents and their teens, as young people gravitate toward independence and peer circles. Yet, a recently viral parenting story has captured thousands of hearts online—and offers important food for thought for families everywhere. Stemming from a simple, daily challenge shared by a mother on TikTok, the experience of intentionally spending time with her teenage sons each day is sparking fresh conversations about the power of shared routines in nurturing family bonds during turbulent teen years.

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.

A staggering 97% of young people aged 16–29 in the European Union now use the internet daily, according to the latest statistics released by Eurostat in July 2025. This near-universal connectivity among EU youths—an increase from 87% just a decade ago—carries important lessons for developing digital literacy and inclusivity in Thailand, where similar trends are emerging but at different rates and with different challenges. The findings reflect both how deeply digital technology has become embedded in young Europeans’ lives and how the gap between youth and the broader population is narrowing, raising questions about digital readiness in the wider Thai community as the kingdom embraces its own digital transformation.

A recent study has revealed a compelling link between positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) and a greater susceptibility to problematic social media use, raising important questions for Thai society as digital technologies increasingly permeate daily life. This new research could reshape how educators, parents, and policymakers approach digital literacy and mental health in Thailand, especially as the nation rapidly adopts AI-driven platforms and social networks.

As Thailand continues to embrace digital transformation, both in private life and public policy, the question of how technology shapes human behavior is becoming more pressing. According to the study reported in PsyPost, researchers found that individuals with a more favorable view of AI technologies are more likely to develop patterns of social media use that may border on problematic or even addictive. This finding holds significance for a country like Thailand, noted for its high exposure to social media—recent surveys indicate that over 52 million Thais use social platforms, with many spending upwards of three hours per day online (DataReportal Thailand Report).

A growing trend among teenagers to pursue what they see as natural, “crunchy” wellness is raising new concerns among health professionals, who warn that teens embracing extreme eating habits in the name of health may be putting themselves at real risk. The so-called “crunchy teen” movement, which promotes natural foods, holistic remedies, and sometimes outright rejection of conventional medicine, is spreading rapidly on social media platforms and affecting adolescent behaviors worldwide, including here in Thailand.

As Thailand’s youth increasingly turn to their screens for social connection and self-expression, new research reveals a troubling link between excessive smartphone and social media use and the surge in mental health problems among young people. National statistics and leading academic studies confirm that anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and even suicidality are rising at alarming rates, raising urgent questions about how Thai society can protect its next generation from what experts call a digital health emergency.

As social media makes it ever easier to bridge years of separation with a single click, more Thais find themselves weighing whether to reconnect with old friends online. A recent report in The Washington Post spotlights emerging scientific evidence and expert advice on this modern dilemma, urging readers to reflect on their motivations and the risks before reaching out to long-lost acquaintances (Washington Post).

The significance of these findings is particularly salient in Thailand, where social harmony and close-knit communities are deeply embedded in culture, yet where digital transformation has expanded networks beyond traditional boundaries. Whether prompted by curiosity, nostalgia, or a desire to heal old wounds, rekindling a friendship from the past raises not only possibilities for renewal but also challenges that may go unconsidered.

A new wellness phenomenon, dubbed the “crunchy teen” trend, is taking hold among adolescents worldwide, with many Thai parents and educators beginning to notice the ripple effects at home. While this movement—which promotes a nature-focused, supposedly “clean” approach to eating—may sound healthy on the surface, recent expert warnings highlight an alarming rise in misinformation, extreme food beliefs, and real health risks linked to its practices. A leading family medicine specialist from Kaiser Permanente in Fairfax, Virginia, recently told US media that these trends could set off a new wave of disordered eating and anxiety among teenagers seeking dietary “perfection” rather than balance (wtop.com).

A recent study published in Behavioural Brain Research has revealed a significant connection between symptoms of love addiction and persistent problems with memory, attention, and cognitive performance in everyday life. The research, conducted with 600 adult participants, paints a complex picture of how intense emotional dependence in romantic relationships—along with heavy social media use—may harm mental clarity and well-being, with important implications for Thai readers as digital habits and relationship expectations evolve (PsyPost).

Magnesium has become a star of wellness social media, with influencers and even some health professionals touting it as a solution for ailments ranging from insomnia to “brain fog.” Yet, while this essential mineral undeniably supports several vital bodily processes, leading experts caution that many online claims significantly overstate what magnesium truly delivers, leaving Thai consumers at risk of unrealistic expectations and possible health drawbacks.

Magnesium plays a biological role critical for nerve, muscle, heart, and bone function, making it an indispensable part of a healthy diet. As a clinical pharmacist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center told HuffPost, “With supplements, in general, there’s not a lot of requirements out there for good hard research…so it’s unclear how to apply it to certain groups of patients” (huffpost.com). This caveat is particularly timely in Thailand, where supplement use is growing and is heavily influenced by trends found on TikTok, Facebook, and LINE groups.

In a digital world flooded with wellness advice, new research and expert opinion reveal that so-called “quick fixes” widely promoted on social media are unlikely to have any real effect on our body’s principal stress hormone, cortisol—a chemical that, while critical to health, can pose risks if chronically elevated. As Thai society faces rising mental health challenges amid work, family, and financial pressures, understanding what really works to manage stress has never been more important.