The Impact of Using Social Media to Change the Thai Values of Teenages in Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study teenagers’ beharior of using on line media 2) to study factors relevant to Thai teenagers’ values with social media used, and 3) to study the positive and negative effects of social media used among teenagers. Researchers used mixed – method research. Population were teenagers using online media, who lived in Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya municipality.

The result show with respect to factors relevant to Thai teenagers’ values in social media use, they were divided into seven categories: 1) attitude factor 2) social factor 3) nurture factor 4) income and economic factors 5) education factor 6) peer pressure factor and 7) icon influence factor. Besides, social media has both positive and negative impacts on teenagers. And the interview data derived from a group of teenagers using social media, the positive effects were illustrated as follows: 1) value in education and seeking knowledge, 2) value in gratitude, 3) value in selflessness and public mind, 4) value in being healthy, and 5) value in self-reliance and hard work. However, there were also ten traits which exhibit the negative effects including: 1) value in extravagantness, 2) value in incorrect use of language, 3) value in having premature sex and value in sex before marriage, 4) value with pleasure more than one love, 5)  value in consumerism, 6) value in clothing and fashions, 7) value in independence, freedom, and living out of rules, 8) value in gambling or superstitions, 9) value in the preference and imitation of Western and East Asian values, and 10) value of being not proud of Thai language.