Thailand’s digital economy flourishes despite growing concerns over Internet addiction

Thailand’s digital economy (cloud infrastructure, AI, e-commerce, digital finance…) is on a spectacular rise. According to the Digital Economy and Society, in 2025, it is projected to grow by 7.3%, reaching a value of 4.85 trillion baht (≈$144.4 billion USD), a pace more than twice superior to the national GDP growth (2.8%). The country is quickly becoming a regional tech hub, driven by a mobile-first culture, surging foreign investments in cloud and AI, and a population that lives online.

Thailand’s remarkable digital growth comes with a growing concern: the nation’s rapid embrace of online platforms and technology has fostered a significant and increasing dependence. As internet usage expands, the risks of overuse and its adverse effects are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.

How digital is powering Thailand’s economy

Thailand’s digital ecosystem is expanding rapidly across all sectors. E-commerce is expected to reach US$32.25 billion by 2029, while internet access has become nearly universal—91.2% of the population was online as of January 2025, up from 88% the year before, according to the latest Digital 2025 Global Overview Report. With 99.5 million mobile connections, amounting to 139% of the total population, it should be noted that some of these connections may only include services such as voice and SMS, and some may not include access to the internet.

The digital sector is outperforming traditional industries, according to the Digital Economy and Society, in the Bangkok Post : 

Foreign Investment fuels Thailand’s digital ambitions

Thailand’s ambition to become Southeast Asia’s digital hub is being propelled by a surge of foreign investment in cloud infrastructure and AI technologies. Leading the charge, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committing $5 billion over 15 years to establish a dedicated AWS Region in Thailand by early 2025, targeting startups, large enterprises, and the public sector. 

Google is also making significant inroads with a $1 billion investment in data centers in Bangkok and Chonburi, a project expected to generate 14,000 jobs and generate $4 billion into the nation’s GDP. 

Microsoft has announced its first Azure region in Thailand, putting an emphasis on AI integration and secure cloud solutions for both business and government. 

Meanwhile, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is investing $3.8 billion (THB 126.8 billion) in data hosting services, with operations set to begin in 2026. 

Other notable investments include Beijing Haoyang Cloud & Data Technology’s $2.2 billion commitment to build a 300 MW hyperscale data center, and Empyrion Digital’s AI-optimized data facility in Bangkok, launching in 2027 with a $140 million investment. .

A hyperconnected society

Thailand has embraced digital life at an unprecedented level, with average daily internet use reaching almost 8 hours across all devices (7 hours and 54 minutes), to the latest Thailand Digital Report of 2024. Mobile-only usage stands at 5 hours and 2 minutes per day. These figures place Thailand 10th globally for total internet use and 5th for mobile internet consumption.

Across generations, usage remains high: Gen Y (22–41) leads with 8 hours and 55 minutes, followed by Gen Z (under 22) at 8 hours and 24 minutes, Gen X at 5 hours and 52 minutes, and Baby Boomers with 3 hours and 21 minutes per day. This hyperconnectivity is driven by platforms like LINE (over 50 million users), Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which alone reaches around 76% of Thai adults aged 18 and above. For many Thais, being online is more than a routine, it’s a lifestyle embedded in communication, entertainment, e-commerce, healthcare, and financial services.

How screens are affecting Thai youth

Thailand’s youth is facing a growing digital health crisis. On average, Thai children and teens spend over 35 hours a week on screens, more than double the recommended maximum of 16 hours. Alarmingly, 61% of youth aged 6–18 are at risk of gaming addiction, with many spending over three hours a day playing. Each additional hour online raises the risk of addiction, especially among adolescents. The consequences are serious: more and more young people are experiencing emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disorders.

Excessive screen exposure is now proven to cause long-term harm. Mentally, it’s linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts, especially in cases of severe addiction. On a cognitive level, screen addiction is shown to impair attention, language skills, and decision-making, with brain scans revealing structural damage similar to that caused by drug abuse. Physically, excessive screen time disrupts sleep cycles, causes chronic pain, and contributes to obesity and metabolic issues due to sedentary behavior.