Education Minister Prasert Concerned About Children's Heavy Social Media Use, Attention Span Issues; Declares Urgent Priority with Two-Track Solution
Thailand's Education Minister warns that excessive social media use is damaging children's attention spans and declares the issue an urgent priority, proposing separate protective and educational strategies for younger and older students.
On May 26, 2569, Education Minister Prasert Jantarawongtong discussed the issue of children consuming excessive amounts of social media, resulting in diminished ability to focus on specific activities—a concern for society as a whole. Research shows that Thai children spend significant time on social media and watching short videos, causing attention span problems. The minister emphasized this is not a matter of blaming children or the platforms, but rather a challenge of the digital age. The Education Ministry considers this an urgent priority requiring immediate action to ensure Thai children develop into quality individuals.
The ministry is pursuing a two-track solution informed by models from other countries. For younger children whose brains are still developing, protective measures are necessary. For older children, instruction in proper digital technology skills and AI literacy is required. These are the ministry's responsibilities. The minister stated he will consult with relevant agencies promptly to increase children's focus and encourage appropriate social media use.
The minister acknowledged the serious concern that dangerous content is entering social media platforms and being consumed by youth. The ministry has implemented safety centers in schools working alongside student rights centers and education personnel to coordinate efforts. Going forward, there must be discussions about platform safety protocols, including age restrictions for accessing various platforms.
