#Youth

A quick look at how someone uses their phone can reveal more about personality than we might assume. New research shows a strong link between compulsive social media use and narcissistic traits. The study, conducted at the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, suggests that excessive online activity goes beyond vanity and affects mental health and social wellbeing. For Thai readers, these findings come at a crucial time as social platforms are deeply woven into daily life and work.

A simple glance at someone’s phone habits may reveal more about their personality than previously thought. Recent psychological research has spotlighted compulsive social media use as a tell-tale sign of narcissistic tendencies, with experts warning of consequences that extend beyond the screen and into mental health and social wellbeing. The findings, anchored by a new study from the University of Gdańsk and published in the Journal of Research in Personality, provide timely insights—especially for countries like Thailand, where social platforms are woven deeply into daily life (Daily Mail).

A recent report by UNICEF has revealed that while Japanese children excel in physical health, their mental well-being remains among the poorest in the developed world. Ranking 32nd out of 43 developed and emerging nations, Japan’s position is largely attributed to a troublingly high youth suicide rate, despite improvements in other areas of child development. This stark finding underscores an urgent need for both national awareness and targeted policies to address the mental health crisis among Japanese youth, offering important lessons for countries across Asia, including Thailand.

A growing body of research shows social media is taking a toll on young people’s mental health worldwide, including in Thailand. Experts link rising depression, anxiety, and other distress signals to digital engagement. Regulators, parents, and schools are being urged to act now with stronger media literacy, healthier online habits, and safer platform design.

The surge in social media use among children and teens is reshaping childhood experiences and introducing new psychological risks. A recent briefing by the Kids Code Coalition highlighted in national media coverage, where advocates called for warning labels on social apps similar to tobacco or alcohol disclosures. The coalition points to an uptick in mental health crises that coincides with greater online activity, especially after the pandemic.

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 new study from the Boke District in Eastern Ethiopia highlights a persistent gap in reproductive health knowledge among high school students. The findings underscore how crucial reliable, age-appropriate guidance is for adolescents in a world of increasing digital information and evolving social norms. For Thai educators and policymakers, the Ethiopian experience offers both a warning and a blueprint for strengthening adolescent health education at home and in schools.

According to researchers, only a minority of high school students could accurately answer questions about reproductive health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. The study identifies factors behind low health literacy, including gender disparities, limited parental education, scarce youth-friendly health services, and cultural beliefs that discourage open conversations about sexuality. Students with trusted information sources—whether at school or within families—demonstrated higher understanding and confidence on these topics.

A newly published research study has shed light on the challenges faced by high school students regarding reproductive health knowledge in Ethiopia’s Boke district, with the findings sparking discussion about what Thai educators and policymakers can learn from the global context of adolescent health education. The study, titled “Reproductive Health Literacy and Associated Factors Among High School Adolescents in Boke District, Eastern Ethiopia” and published in the Advances in Public Health journal, reveals that many teens still lack fundamental understanding of sexual health, where to access care, and how to protect themselves from preventable risks (source).

Hollywood actor Penn Badgley’s recent disclosure about his struggle with body dysmorphia has resonated widely, igniting crucial conversations about mental health, celebrity culture, and the influence of media on self-image both in the West and here in Thailand. In a heartfelt interview with The Guardian, Badgley—best known for his roles in “Gossip Girl” and “You”—shared, “I know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one…I was jumping wilfully into, but also being thrust into, this world where the more conventionally beautiful I seemed, the more successful I might be, the more value I might have” (The Guardian). His frank admission has sparked international attention, highlighting the often-hidden torment experienced by people living with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and underscoring the urgent need for public awareness and intervention—especially in visually oriented societies.

Thai readers may remember the spectacular social media phenomenon a decade ago, when people across the world — from celebrities to schoolchildren — doused themselves in ice water for the original Ice Bucket Challenge. Launched in 2014, the trend raised over US$220 million globally for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), known in Thai as โรคกล้ามเนื้ออ่อนแรง (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and brought international attention to a previously little-known disease. Now, in 2025, the challenge is back — but with an urgent new purpose: breaking the silence around mental health, especially among young people (NBC News, New York Times).

The Ice Bucket Challenge, which captivated the world in 2014 and raised more than US$220 million for ALS research, is back in 2025 with a new mission. This time, university students in the United States are steering a movement to break the silence around mental health among young people. The campaign uses the familiar ritual of pouring ice-cold water over the head, sharing the moment online, and tagging friends, but funds now support Active Minds, a nonprofit focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention.

A growing digital challenge is drawing global attention: the rising prevalence of problematic pornography use and its effects on mental health and social wellbeing. A 2025 regional update from WWMT in Michigan highlighted that heavy online pornography consumption goes beyond individual choice and can become a public health concern with personal and societal consequences. As Thailand experiences rapid digital expansion, these patterns are increasingly relevant for Thai readers as well.

A new research report has found that students who use dating apps are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, raising concerns among educators and health professionals about a hidden danger in the digital age of romance. The study, highlighted by Frontiers in November 2024, adds fresh urgency to Thailand’s ongoing efforts to improve sexual health education and digital literacy among young people Frontiers in Public Health.

With dating apps becoming an integral part of modern student social life, especially in university settings across Thailand and globally, this news holds significant implications. Thai students are among the world’s most digitally connected, with Gen Z leading trends in smartphone and app usage. Yet, with greater access to platforms that facilitate rapid connections often come greater health risks, including unprotected sex, multiple partners, and a higher likelihood of encountering sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to the new research, these risks are statistically higher among students active on dating apps.

A recent study highlights a concerning link between dating app use and higher-risk sexual behaviors among university students. The findings, summarized in Frontiers in Public Health, underscore Thailand’s long-running push to improve sexual health education and digital literacy for youth.

With dating apps now central to student life in Thai universities, educators are rethinking how to address real-world risks. Thailand’s youth are among the most digitally connected in the world, and easy access to potential partners can coincide with unprotected sex, multiple partners, and increased exposure to sexually transmitted infections. The research shows that these risks are more common among students who use dating apps.

A revived version of the iconic “Ice Bucket Challenge” is sweeping across social media, this time with a heartfelt mission: raising awareness for mental health. Launched in April 2025 by Active Minds—a prominent US-based non-profit—the campaign encourages participants to douse themselves with ice water while sharing stories about mental health, aiming to spark conversation and end stigma worldwide. While reminiscent of the original ALS fundraising phenomenon of 2014, the new challenge’s “deeper meaning” lies in fostering an open dialogue about struggles that too often remain hidden, a cause especially resonant given today’s post-pandemic mental health crisis.

A revived Ice Bucket Challenge is taking social media by storm with a new purpose: mental health education and support. Launched in April 2025 by Active Minds, a US-based nonprofit, the campaign invites people to pour ice water over themselves while sharing personal stories about mental health. The idea is to spark open dialogue and reduce stigma, aligning with a broader post-pandemic focus on well-being.

Global mental health concerns are rising. The World Health Organization reports that up to one in eight people worldwide live with a mental health disorder. In Thailand, the Department of Mental Health notes growing anxiety and depressive symptoms among youth and working-age adults, a trend intensified by COVID-19 and rapid social change. Local outlets have documented the impact on daily life and workplace productivity.

A recent account from Marina Jennings, a 20-year-old from Jersey, sheds light on the profound effects of social media on young individuals’ mental health. Jennings, who began using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram at the tender age of 12, recently decided to step away from them after recognizing their adverse effects on her well-being. Her decision to permanently delete TikTok and temporarily abstain from Instagram came as a result of the anxiety and self-consciousness these platforms instilled in her. Jennings’s story is a poignant example of the wider influence of social media, prompting discussions on mental health and online safety.