#Youth

A new wave of research and social commentary is sparking heated debate about how Generation Z – those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s – are “protecting their peace” in ways that older generations often view as avoidance or shirking of responsibility. The recently published feature in VegOut Magazine highlights nine key behaviors, such as ghosting, preemptive blocking, and “therapy speak” shutdowns, which are being reevaluated in both Western and Asian societies, including Thailand, for their impacts on mental health, workplace culture, family relationships, and social cohesion (VegOutMag.com).

Many studies and personal stories show that being alone does not have to mean feeling lonely. For Thai readers, this shift offers practical paths to better mental health through mindful solitude in a hyper-connected world.

The current narrative moves from feeling invisible in crowds to valuing solo time as a route to self-discovery. Research from the Harvard Making Caring Common project indicates that loneliness is not simply about being alone; people can feel emotionally detached even when surrounded by others. In the United States, about one in three adults report serious loneliness, with younger people most affected. These findings resonate in Thailand, where online pressures and the challenge of balancing connection with personal well-being are increasingly felt.

A wave of research and commentary is fueling debate about Gen Z’s approach to mental well-being. Born roughly from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s, this generation is praised for self-awareness and criticized by some elders as avoiding responsibility. A VegOut Magazine feature outlines nine behaviors—such as preemptive blocking and therapy-speak shutdowns—and examines their impacts on mental health, workplaces, families, and social cohesion. The discussion resonates in Thailand, where respect and harmony meet modern conversations on boundaries and well-being.

Online chatter about mental health often spreads faster than solid guidance, especially among Thai youths who dominate digital spaces. This piece explains why myths endure, the risks they pose, and practical steps to stay informed and safe.

Social platforms have transformed how Thais discuss mental health. Communities offer crucial support and help reduce stigma in areas with uneven access to care. Yet sharing is easy, and uncredentialed voices can appear authoritative. A recent PBS NewsHour feature highlighted how viral content travels “like wildfire,” underscoring the harm from unverified claims.

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.

A new study reveals that nearly 75% of American teenagers have experimented with artificial intelligence (AI) tools—apps and chatbots designed to simulate conversation—for flirting, seeking advice, or chatting about life. Yet, despite AI’s growing role in adolescent lives, the majority still prefer real-life friendships and face-to-face interactions, according to research released Wednesday by Common Sense Media, a leading child-advocacy nonprofit NPR.

This revelation holds particular significance for Thai educators, parents, and policy-makers as social technology and AI-integrated apps become more embedded in youth culture worldwide. As Thai teens increasingly engage with digital platforms, understanding the social patterns, risks, and preferences illuminated by U.S. findings can help anticipate similar trends in Thailand—and shape timely response strategies.

A recent study reveals that nearly three-quarters of American teenagers have experimented with AI tools—apps and chatbots that simulate conversation—for flirting, seeking advice, or simply chatting about life. Yet most still prefer real-life friendships and face-to-face interactions. The findings, from Common Sense Media, offer timely lessons for Thai educators, parents, and policymakers as digital platforms become more embedded in youth culture worldwide.

In Thailand, LINE chatbots, gaming companions, and social-media AIs are increasingly common among young people. Understanding how AI companions shape social habits, risks, and preferences abroad can help anticipate similar dynamics at home and inform protective responses for youth wellbeing. The study looked at AI companions such as CHAI, Character.AI, Nomi, and Replika—designed for casual conversation, emotional support, and role-play. More than half of teens surveyed use digital friends at least a few times a month, mainly for entertainment and curiosity. Yet many still value human connections as more meaningful and satisfying.

A new Eurostat release from July 2025 shows daily online activity is nearly universal among young Europeans. Ninety-seven percent of people aged 16–29 in the EU now use the internet every day, up from 87% ten years ago. The shift underscores how digital life has become central to education, work, and culture, and it provides a reference point for Thailand’s own digital transformation.

For Thai policymakers and educators, the data emphasize the internet’s role in shaping youth development. Daily connectivity is now an expectation rather than a luxury, particularly in urban areas. Overall EU internet use has climbed from 63% in 2014 to 88% today, illustrating a new norm of digital engagement that Thailand is approaching, though rural communities still face gaps.

The personal experience recounted in a recent Salt Lake Tribune opinion piece—of an individual forced to sever ties with conservative, immigrant parents after coming out as LGBTQ+—is not only poignant but also, sadly, emblematic of a wider pattern documented by international and Thai research. As dialogue around LGBTQ+ acceptance grows more visible in public and family spheres, scientists are compiling evidence that family rejection sharply increases mental health risks, but that targeted interventions and rising social support can, over time, help break cycles of alienation and trauma.

A recent feature in Slate highlights a modern challenge for families in multicultural societies: supporting a teenager’s curiosity about organized religion, especially when it crosses ethnic and denominational lines. The piece, published June 27, 2025, titled “Help! My Son Wants to Go to Church. Uh, I’m Not Sure I Can Support This,” examines the emotions many parents face when a child’s spiritual interest diverges from family tradition and leads them into sacred spaces with deep cultural histories.

A recent feature in Slate has spotlighted an emerging challenge for parents in multicultural societies: supporting a teenager’s desire to explore organized religion, especially in a context that crosses both ethnic and denominational boundaries. The article, published on June 27, 2025, under the headline “Help! My Son Wants to Go to Church. Uh, I’m Not Sure I Can Support This,” addresses the nuanced emotions that arise when a young person’s spiritual curiosity diverges from family tradition—and ventures into sacred spaces with deep-seated cultural histories (slate.com).

A startling new survey by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has found that one in four young people in England now lives with a mental health condition, highlighting a growing crisis that has implications far beyond British borders—including for Thailand’s youth. The figure, revealed this week, underscores mounting concerns among educators, policymakers, and medical professionals, as rates of depression, anxiety, and related disorders soar among adolescents. Mental health experts say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for countries worldwide, including Thailand, given the parallels in academic pressures, social media influence, and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new survey from England’s National Health Service reveals that one in four young people now lives with a mental health condition. The finding signals a growing youth mental health crisis with implications beyond Britain, including for Thailand. Educators, clinicians, and policymakers are closely watching as rates of depression, anxiety, and related disorders rise among teenagers. Experts say the lessons are global, given similar pressures from academics, online life, and lingering pandemic effects.

Recent research highlights a global shift: with the average human lifespan rising rapidly, younger generations are poised to experience profoundly different careers, family lives, and retirement than any generation before. According to a new analysis shared by ROAR Forward and featured in a US media report, life expectancy in developed nations has ballooned from 62 years a century ago to approximately 80 today, with experts forecasting over 20 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. This longevity revolution is sending ripple effects across societies—and nowhere are those effects more relevant than in rapidly aging Asian nations like Thailand.

A global shift is underway: people live longer, and younger generations will build longer careers, healthier families, and fuller lives than any generation before. A recent analysis from ROAR Forward, highlighted in U.S. coverage, shows life expectancy in developed nations rising from about 62 a century ago to around 80 today, with experts predicting more than 20 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. In Thailand and other aging Asian societies, these trends are reshaping education, work, and social policy.

A recent study finds that young men who struggle to adapt thoughts and behaviors around body image and exercise are much more likely to develop unhealthy exercise habits, especially when chasing muscle. The findings, published in Eating Behaviors and summarized by researchers at a leading university, highlight a psychological factor that may help explain why some men in Thailand and around the world develop dangerous exercise routines.

The research is particularly relevant in Thailand, where global ideals of muscularity and fitness have gained traction through social media, fitness influencers, and the booming supplement industry. Local gyms in Bangkok and other cities report a surge in men pursuing intense routines, often inspired by images of ideal physiques seen in popular culture. This trend raises important questions about mental health and wellbeing for Thailand’s youth, and the study offers timely insight.

China’s bold experiment in introducing artificial intelligence (AI) education to primary schoolers is sending shockwaves through classrooms—and corporate boardrooms—around the world. As six-year-olds in Beijing begin learning about the building blocks of AI, over 250 chief executives from top global companies, including Microsoft, Airbnb, and Uber, are demanding similar lessons for American students in the hopes of unlocking economic and social benefits on a global scale (Fortune, MSN). The move marks a pivotal moment not just for the United States, which is now scrambling to keep pace, but for Thailand and the wider world, where the question is no longer whether AI belongs in childhood education—but when and how.

Thailand watches China’s move to begin AI education for primary students with keen interest. In Beijing, six-year-olds are already exploring AI fundamentals, while thousands of global business leaders urge the United States to adopt similar approaches. The ripple effect raises questions not only for the US, but for Thailand and other nations as they consider when and how to weave AI into early learning.

China has embedded AI into schooling through nationwide guidelines. Starting this school year, Beijing schools will provide at least eight hours of AI-focused instruction annually, blending algorithmic thinking, coding, and hands-on experimentation with smart devices. The aim is to build digital literacy, problem-solving, and STEM readiness from the earliest grades. Thailand’s policymakers are monitoring these developments as they seek to boost competitiveness and reduce educational gaps.

A growing body of research challenges the instinct to flee boredom. Constantly reaching for smartphones may undermine mental health and hinder self-discovery. In discussing the topic for Thai audiences, recent coverage navigates how boredom functions in our digital era and how Thai society might approach this often neglected emotion.

Thais, like people worldwide, live in a culture saturated with digital distractions. Whether waiting in line at a food stall, riding the BTS Skytrain, or enduring a classroom lull, many reach for their devices. Experts now suggest boredom, though uncomfortable, serves a purpose—somewhat like hunger or loneliness—pushing us toward more meaningful activities.

A growing body of research is challenging our instinctive avoidance of boredom, suggesting that our constant efforts to escape it—especially through smartphones—may be undermining both our mental health and the potential for meaningful self-discovery. Recent findings discussed in The Guardian highlight the complexity of boredom’s role in the digital age and spark fresh debate on how Thai society should approach this underestimated emotion.

Thais, like people everywhere, live in an era saturated with digital distractions. Whether waiting in line at a food stall, riding the BTS Skytrain, or enduring a lull during classroom lectures, the reflex for many is to reach for a smartphone. The implications run deeper than wasted time: a new consensus among psychologists is that boredom, although often uncomfortable, serves an important function similar to hunger or loneliness by prompting us toward more engaging or meaningful pursuits.

A recent wave of international rankings has put Singapore in the spotlight, designating the city-state as the third happiest city in the world, behind only Copenhagen and Zurich according to the 2025 Happy City Index (CNBC). Yet, this glowing reputation has triggered a complex reaction among Singaporeans themselves, echoing a broader debate across Asia—including Thailand—about what true happiness means in highly structured societies.

Singapore’s strong position on the index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, was determined by an extensive assessment across six key categories: citizens’ well-being, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Notably, 2025 marks the first year the index included health in its evaluation—an addition reflecting increased global concerns about physical and mental wellness after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A large international study identifies four psychological profiles among video game players, shedding light on how emotional regulation and attachment styles influence both healthy and problematic gaming. The research, published in Addictive Behaviors, analyzed responses from more than 5,000 gamers across 112 countries, offering nuanced insights that challenge stereotypes about gaming addiction and mental health. Research by leading psychology institutes shows that gaming can be a source of both comfort and risk, depending on individual emotional and social contexts.

A new synthesis of multiple studies shows that people with narcissistic traits are more prone to developing an addiction to social networking sites. The finding adds to growing concerns about how digital life affects mental health in Thailand and around the world.

Social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) have reshaped how people connect, share, and present themselves. In Thailand, social media use remains high, with millions of users representing a large portion of the population. While this connectivity offers benefits, it also coincides with rising concerns about problematic or compulsive use, a behavior sometimes labeled as social media addiction. Research from international sources indicates a clear link between higher narcissism scores and greater engagement in compulsive online activity.

Recent scientific research has revealed that individuals with narcissistic personality traits are more susceptible to developing an addiction to social networking sites, highlighting concerns about mental health in the digital age. This study, which synthesises findings from multiple prior investigations, offers important insights for Thai parents, teachers, and mental health professionals as social media use continues to surge across the kingdom.

The rise of social networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) has dramatically changed the way people interact, share information, and cultivate their identities. According to recent statistics, Thailand is among the world’s most active countries on social media, with over 52 million users as of 2024, accounting for more than 74% of the population (DataReportal). This trend has facilitated both increased social connectedness and, unfortunately, a growing prevalence of problematic or compulsive usage, sometimes classified as social networking site addiction (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).