Thailand aims to fully complete its digital transformation by 2027, as outlined in the 20-year Thailand Digital Economy and Society Development Plan (Digital Thailand Plan), a strategic roadmap to achieve a developed country status by 2037. Yet, significant challenges remain. According to the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, a key benchmark used by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Thailand is placed 38th out of 69 economies in 2025, slipping three places from the previous year. Against this backdrop, TFGI organised a youth-focused discussion in Bangkok to gather insights of young people as their involvement in and contributions towards the digital economy will become more essential than ever. Through the in-depth discussion, it has demonstrated that youths in Thailand are not only the beneficiaries of digital policy, but also the future designers, implementers and stewards of Thailand’s digital future.
Key takeaways:
1. Updating digital skills and modernising education
A major concern raised was the widening gap between Thailand’s school curricula and the rapidly evolving demands of the digital economy. While students and young workers are expected to navigate AI-driven tools, the education system still relies heavily on memorisation, passive learning and outdated teaching materials.
To address this, youth participants emphasised the need to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, financial literacy and critical thinking into learning activities. Participants also advocated shifting from the current lecture-based, grade-focused model to a more skill-based learning approach. They argued this would better equip students with practical and relevant abilities aligned with employer needs. Several proposed summer policy sandboxes for educators as practical platforms for experimenting with new teaching models before scaling them nationwide.
However, the participants stressed that education reform cannot succeed without recognising the realities faced by teachers. Those with experience in the education sector highlighted the overwhelming workloads and limited support that many teachers currently shoulder. They recommended providing greater incentives and resources to help educators navigate the transition, along with stronger alignment among schools, government agencies and the private sector on skill evaluation and curriculum planning. Such coordination, they concluded, is essential to ensuring that curriculum revisions are both practical and sustainable.
2. Bridging the digital divide through ecosystem readiness
Participants acknowledged that access to devices and internet connectivity is relatively common in Thailand. However, their main concern centered around quality of connectivity and disparities in digital skills. These, coupled with the increasing pressure to digitise, underscored the need to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure. To effectively narrow the digital gap, participants pointed out several steps to take:
- Ensuring a stable and reliable internet connectivity across the country
- Creating sandboxing environment to foster innovation and safe-testing
- Greater investment in Research and Development
Beyond infrastructure, participants also emphasised the need to adopt a digital policy that encourages multisector collaboration and establish specialised working groups based on different skills, such as healthcare. One participant called for stronger legislative moves to attract investment and funding for research and development, particularly in high-tech industries. Although the Digital Economy Fund already exists, many felt that it should play a more active and influential role in developing an inclusive, accessible and equitable digital economy, driving Thailand’s digital economy forward.
3. Protecting mental health in an increasingly fast-paced world
As digital tools increasingly shape daily life, the associated mental health risks have become more evident. Extended screen time has been linked to serious health conditions such as anxiety, depression and can exacerbate conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These mental health struggles can be driven by online pressures, including social media comparisons, fear of missing out (FOMO) and the pervasive threat of cyberbullying.
During the discussion, the impact of online beauty standards was highlighted as a clear example of how digital media shapes public perception, often resulting in unnecessary stress, depression and social anxiety. Participants identified culture and social norms as the root causes of these issues, proliferated by the need to maintain a digital persona. Reshaping this requires broad awareness and coordinated action across government, public and private sectors. Some of the recommendations include:
- Making mental health support more affordable and readily available.
- Increase mental health education to empower individuals to self-assess, recover and seek appropriate help.
- Improve regulations on online advertising and sponsored media, along with supportive tax measures, to mitigate harmful content and promote responsible digital engagement.
Conclusion
Youth across Southeast Asia are becoming vital partners in shaping an inclusive and responsible digital future. Insights shared by the young leaders at this roundtable highlighted both the urgency of addressing current gaps and the opportunities ahead, from updating digital skills and strengthening infrastructure to promoting healthier online engagement. As Thailand advances its Digital Thailand Plan, continued collaboration across public, private, civic and academic sectors will be essential. Keeping youth at the centre of these conversations will help ensure a digital future built not only for young people, but with them.
Note: This event highlight is contributed by Pichaya (Anik) Charoonpongsakdi.
