Abstract:
The present study aimed to investigate 1.) Thai users’ motivations to self-censor on Facebook and 2.) types of content Thai users self-censor on Facebook. Based on mix methods approaches, a total of 452 responses were collected through surveys; and 10 in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from Thai Facebook users who visited the website at least once a day and aged at least 18 years old. The results showed that need for boundary regulation was the most significant motivation for self-censorship behavior on Facebook, followed by fear of legal and physical threats, fear of criticism and negative feedback and fear of social isolation (spiral of silence theory), respectively. In addition, the most self-censored content on Facebook was personal-related content, namely negative feelings, personal updates and negative opinions towards Friend on Facebook.
