Health

Prolonged Social Media Use Leaving an Unhealthy Impact on Thai Youth

Online Social media had exploded ever since the 2000s when it became popular and found a strong following from people belonging from all age groups. Throughout this period, the youth habitually being the biggest users of social media platforms, including the likes of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tik Tok, Twitter, and YouTube, to name a few.

However, with frequent use of social media in their daily lives, the youth has come across a lot of trouble, and the platforms are often considered addictive in nature.

According to a recent study by Data Reportal, internet penetration in Thailand stood at 75% as of January 2020, with over 52 million social media users. From 2019 to 2020, there as a 4.7% increase reported in the number of social media users in Thailand.

Furthermore, the numbers of mobile connections were found to be equivalent to 134% of the total population as of January 2020. In light of this information, let’s take a quick look at how social media is impacting the Thai youth.

Bad Feelings & a Range of Them

Prolonged Social Media Use Leaving an Unhealthy Impact on Thai Youth

There are several studies out there that are pointing out the fact that prolonged use of social media by the youth, especially the teenagers, is leaving an unhealthy impact on users.

This includes a mixture of bad feelings such as depressions, aggression, anxiety, and loneliness that may result ultimately in antisocial behavior. Amongst the most popular social media platforms, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Pinterest take the top spot for being the most popular.

In Thailand, kids as young as six years old have been reported to access the internet. The country is also regarded as one of the youngest online markets across the globe with the youth, making the highest percentage of the web population and also spending the greatest amount of time online.

Cyber Bullying

Prolonged Social Media Use Leaving an Unhealthy Impact on Thai Youth

While cyberbullying is an international problem, a recent study on cyberbullying in Thailand, reports that the problem exists within the country as it does in any other that is exposed to internet technology.

Over 1,049 students aged 12 to 18 years across 12 schools from several provinces in Southern Thailand were questioned regarding their past experiences and about being a victim of cyberbullying.

It was found that the best response was to inform an elder, including parents or a teacher to deal with the issue. However, in the case of cyber victimization, students who were surveyed recommended blocking messages/identities or even changing phone numbers and email addresses as a suitable remedy.

Devious Shopping & Compulsive Buying

An article published by Research Gate discusses how online marketing companies are using their influence to make the youth of Thailand to indulge in compulsive buying behaviors. The study also found that an unexpectedly higher segment of young adolescents in Thailand was most susceptible to follow this kind of behavior patterns.

In fact, the study incorporated data from both China as well as Thailand, and surprisingly the youth in Thailand showed a stronger tendency towards compulsive buying.

Some of the biggest online stores in Thailand include 11street, Kaidee, and Lazada. In the category of retail sites include Agoda.com, Central. Co.th, Shopee, and Zalora.

Apart from their online proprietor stores, these e-commerce platforms utilize attractive branding tactics on several social media platforms to encourage young people in Thailand to overspend and exceed their predefined budgets.

Humiliating or Publicly Shaming Others

Mental Health Issues

Publicly humiliating someone online is a huge concern and should be considered an abhorrent act. Nobody should be allowed to make fun of anybody, especially based on race, skin color, social status, and financial standings.

However, with the use of the internet being often left unregulated, the youth can run into unpleasant encounters with people that they barely know. This can lead to all sorts of trouble. Coconuts Bangkok, which is a happening website for English speaking Thais and expats, shares a story of its own.

There it is mentioned that people run a group on Facebook called “I Park Like an Idiot” where they share pictures of people who park their cars in an uncivilized manner and publicly shame them.

However, this can prove to be troublesome because the same tactics can be used by the youth to show off their grudges against each other online via social media posts.

Instilling Rebelliousness

online Socal Media Thailand

Teen rebellion is a common theme that has been discussed in detail and often showcased through popular movie characters including James Dean in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ and Dallas Winston in the ‘Outsiders’.

However, with the advent of social media, teen rebellion got its biggest boost since it gave youngsters with the ability to communicate and like minded fans/followers online. This meant that they can now coordinate their activities on a much greater scale.

Many teenagers also use social media to express their political and social beliefs that may contradict societal norms and go against the religious teachings of communities.

Thailand is no exception in this case, and in recent times during the country’s 12th Coup d’état launched the Thai military, many activist movements were launched. In 2014 the Thai youth founded the movement called Free Youth with the power of social media while it was generally considered to be a taboo to speak up and against the ruling government.

Mental Health Issues

Use of social media has found by several studies to instill FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and impact one’s mood negatively. As social creatures, we as humans crave companionship; however, social media exploits this very need and make us more vulnerable to be in the spotlight often and slowly eating away at privacy in our lives.

Many people across the globe have become increasingly reliant on social media platforms for connecting with their families, loved ones, friends, and relatives.

However, this has an unhealthy dependency on us to always please others. According to a post by The Nation Thailand, Chulalongkorn research revealed 15 biggest risks that social media posts for people in Thailand.

Amongst these risks included visual violence, pornographic content, online gambling, and persuaded to earn illegal money for age groups ranging from 15-22 years old.

Over-Sexualized Clothing

Thai teen, social media, online

It has been found that teenagers, and especially young girls quickly find social media as a means of gaining attention and even manipulation through their newly discovered sexuality. Social media provides them with much greater exposure and a much wider audience.

This can make them feel empowered, and with the lack of maturity to self-regulate themselves, there are tremendous pitfalls.

This is where they might end up making contact with people online that have malicious intent such as stalkers and pedophiles as well as mentally sick people who would look upon them as objects of their personal guilty pleasures.

A study published by Springer already list young Thai women to have high health risks concerning HIV, STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and unintended pregnancies. Social media is definitely not helping in the cause to lower those risks.

The Perfect Body Image

Online Socal Media Thailand

The perfect body image is an endless chase that can make others feel disgruntled and feeling ashamed of themselves.

This is why a lot of people often compare themselves with others when they go to social media platforms, and this can leave a negative impact on them. One should always feel grateful for the type of person they are and physical abilities that they are gifted with.

Surprisingly over the years, many disabled motivational speakers, including the likes of Nicholas Jame Vujicic, are showing people to keep a strong belief in themselves.

In recent times a Thai beauty queen contestant was slammed on social media for calling the 2019 Miss Universe Catriona Gray as ‘fat’. So clearly this a problem to be concerned with even amongst beauty pageant contestants.

Viral Video Attempts

A lot of the youth are interested in getting their fifteen minutes of fame and making a viral video is probably considered the best means to achieve that status.

However, this can put the youth in risk to try out dangerous stunts which can result in fatalities as well. The story of Monalisa Perez and Pedro Ruiz should haunt us all to our graves to try out dangerous stunts just to achieved celebrity status.

Pedro Ruiz lost his life at the hands of the love of his life, his girlfriend Monalisa who shot at him with a .50-caliber Desert Eagle handgun thinking that the encyclopedia he was holding in front would protect him. Sadly Pedro died on the spot, and Monalisa was charged with manslaughter and 180 days in jail.

Conclusion

Social media isn’t all fun and games. The path to celebrity status and the empowerment it brings to young people can toy with their minds. It is best that as a parent, one should practice regulation and safety for their young ones at all times.

We need this support and protection for all youth not only in just Thailand but everyone else around the globe. For more questions about the topic, please feel free to leave a mention of your query in the comment section below.

Author Bio

Samantha Kaylee currently works as an Assistant Editor at Crowd Writer. She is a huge fan of EDM, hip-hop, R&B, and trance music. During her free time, she likes to play ping pong indoors and indulge herself binge-watching popular TV series online.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP