#TikTok

A viral personality trend sweeping through Thai social media platforms has sparked nationwide conversations about work-life balance, mental health, and authentic self-expression. The “Type B personality” movement, which gained momentum on TikTok throughout 2024, now resonates deeply within Thai communities seeking alternatives to relentless productivity culture.

Young Thai content creators proudly embrace descriptors once considered career limitations: laid-back, spontaneous, creative, and relationship-focused. These characteristics, traditionally labeled as “Type B traits,” have found new life as badges of honor among a generation questioning whether constant hustle truly leads to happiness.

The viral interest in the Type B personality matters for Thai readers. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

Short videos now label many people as Type B. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

The label comforts users who resist hustle culture. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

Researchers say personality works as traits rather than fixed types. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

A viral quip — “my primary hobby is sending TikToks to my roommate” — has re‑ignited an old question about whether modern life has hollowed out hobbies and face‑to‑face pastimes or merely transformed them. The observation, made in a recent YourTango column, captures a wider debate that links rising social‑media use, economic pressure and burnout to shifts in how people spend free time and how they connect with one another (Are People Just More Boring Now? — YourTango). This matters because leisure patterns are tied to mental health, social cohesion and the informal networks that sustain community life.

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 UK-based psychotherapist has captured over 2.7 million viewers on TikTok by distilling the subtle and often confusing signs that may indicate someone in your life is a narcissist—a topic increasingly resonant in an era of social media-fueled misunderstanding about mental health. The therapist, who runs a therapy service and leverages digital platforms for mental health education, lists 10 critical signals that point to narcissism beyond everyday selfishness, sparking both public interest and debate about the actual meaning of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and its real-world impact.

A sweeping analysis of TikTok’s most popular mental health advice videos has found that more than half contain misleading or incorrect information, raising alarms among healthcare professionals and policymakers about the social media giant’s growing influence on health behaviors worldwide. The investigation, which assessed 100 top-trending mental health advice clips on TikTok, concluded that 52 of these videos included some form of misinformation, often offering dubious quick fixes, misused psychological terminology, and claims devoid of scientific backing. As TikTok becomes a key source of health information for millions—especially the young—these findings highlight urgent global and Thai concerns about digital literacy, the risks of self-diagnosis, and the need for effective regulatory and educational responses.

The viral popularity of mental health content on TikTok has led to a surge in misleading advice and misconceptions, with new research highlighted by The Guardian revealing that misinformation ranges from trivializing serious conditions to promoting unproven treatments. Experts warn that this trend not only stokes confusion but also risks worsening stigma and driving unsafe self-diagnosis—an especially troubling development for young Thais heavily active on the platform.

Mental health issues have become a frontline concern in Thai society, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic intensified stress and isolation among youth and working adults. With TikTok ranking among the most downloaded apps in Thailand and millions of Thai users turning to the platform for support and information, the spread of health misinformation is a pressing national challenge. According to Mental Health Department statistics, Thailand saw significant increases in reported cases of depression and anxiety since 2020, and digital platforms are now a primary health resource for many young adults (Bangkok Post).

A recently shared personal account by Jacob Skidmore, an Ohio-based TikTok creator diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is igniting global and local conversations about stigma, mental health, and the reality of living with NPD. The story, covered by Newsweek and rapidly circulating on social media, highlights how individuals with this diagnosis face not only challenges from the disorder itself but also substantial social vilification and misunderstanding. For Thai readers, the viral nature of this discussion offers an opportunity to reflect on how mental health terminology and stigma play out both globally and in our own society.