STRENGTHENING APPROPRIATE SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIOR ACCORDING TO BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES FOR MATHAYOM 1 STUDENTS AT WAT SAENGSAN SCHOOL PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1) study the social media usage behavior of Grade 7 students at Wat Saengsan School, Pathum Thani Province, and 2) suggest guidelines for enhancing appropriate social media usage behavior based on Buddhist principles for Grade 7 students at Wat Saengsan School, Pathum Thani Province. This is a mixed-methods research, combining quantitative research through questionnaires distributed to 92 Grade 7 students at Wat Saengsan School, Pathum Thani Province, with statistical analysis of means and standard deviations, and qualitative research through document review, interviews with 15 key informants and analyze the data using content analysis.

The research findings revealed that: 1) The overall social media usage behavior of Grade 7 students at Wat Saengsan School, Pathum Thani Province was at a high level. When considering each aspect, the aspects at a high level were entertainment, education, and communication. In contrast, the aspect at a moderate level was the problem of using social media. 2) Guidelines for promoting appropriate social media usage behavior according to Buddhist principles for Grade 7 students at Wat Saengsan School, Pathum Thani Province, is an application of the Yonisomanasikara (analytical reflection or wise consideration) as a Buddhist approach to social media use for Thai youth. The problem of Thai youth using social media without awareness arises because they accumulate experiences and learn about social media unknowingly or lack self-protective measures. The basic principle of developing intelligence to enable youth to be aware of social media involves choosing to use four types of thinking methods because these methods encompass all thinking processes and are a foundation that positively affects intellect, rational thinking, and the mind, which is virtue or merit. This requires four factors: listening, thinking, questioning, and writing, coupled with having good friends and building critical thinking skills to be aware of social media usage.