THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN CONTEMPORARY THAI SOCIETY
Keywords:
Social media, Political participation, Networked citizenship, Digital democracy, ThailandAbstract
This article analyzes the role and power of social media networks in shaping political participation in contemporary Thai society, employing the theoretical frameworks of political participation, Habermas’ public sphere, and new media and digital democracy. The findings indicate that social media has significantly transformed Thailand’s political landscape from offline to digital participation, enabling citizens—particularly youth and students—to play a more active role through platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Political hashtag activism, exemplified by #เยาวชนปลดแอก (#FreeYouth) and #saveบางกลอย (#SaveBangKloi), not only amplified domestic issues but also connected them to international political discourse. The emergence of “networked citizenship” further illustrates how digital citizens generate new political narratives and set public agendas, thereby fostering participatory democracy in Thailand. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including misinformation, fake news, social polarization, and state-imposed restrictions, which continue to limit the full development of digital democracy in the Thai context.
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