Influencers and hashtags: Thai youth identities in social media

Abstract

This paper examines how the identities of the Thai youths today are reflected and manifested in their online activities and through influencers, and what impact will it have on the Thai society going forward in the future. It analyses the social media content that are primarily drawn from Danupha “Milli” Khanatheerakul and Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak’s Twitter and Facebook account. This paper aims to show how the Thai youth’s identities are expressed through their interaction with the influencer’s post. This paper asks: What are the key issues that are of concern to influencers? How did the Thai youths react to them? Why are the reaction positive or negative? What does it say about the identities that the Thai youths identify with today?

This paper argues that the Thai youths today are spending more time online than ever, resulting in social media becoming an extension of their daily lives. Hence, social media activity is the collective power of the youths on the platform and is a real reflection of their ideas and behaviors, while the hashtag has become a symbol of that collective power on social media. Influencers have then become the ideal persona for the youths in Thailand today and would provide some insights to what are the desirable characteristics that constitutes the ideal Thai youths today. Through their interaction with influencers, it can be seen that the Thai youths today see themselves as a separate generation that is aware of social issues. Hence, they are burdened by social justice and will not hesitate take action to make the situation right.