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According to a report cited by the Bangkok Post, one in three Thai teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 has been exposed to nude or sexual content online. Researchers say many young people are driven to share such material in pursuit of likes and followers on their social media profiles.
The study, Leaked: Understanding and Addressing Self-Generated Sexual Content Involving Young People in Thailand, was carried out by research group Evident and the HUG Project, with backing from the World Childhood Foundation.
The survey reached nearly 2,000 children and teenagers aged 9–17 across seven northern provinces between August 2024 and March 2025. It also included consultations with youth, as well as interviews with law enforcement officers and frontline workers.
Findings revealed that one in three participants knew peers at school who had shared or received sexual content. This included nude images of people believed to be under 18, adult pornography, and even AI-generated deepfakes.
Motivations varied: 46% of respondents pointed to likes and followers as the main reason for sharing sexual content. Financial rewards such as money or gifts were cited by 45%, while 40% mentioned the desire for validation. About a third (34%) said young people were pressured, tricked, or coerced into sharing.
Despite an increasing awareness of risks, 56% of those surveyed admitted that technology makes it too easy to distribute intimate images without fully considering the consequences.
The study also found a gap between adult and youth perceptions. Young people often viewed online scams and drug use as more dangerous than sharing sexual material.
“Young people are growing up in a world where their digital lives are inseparable from their offline ones,” said Wirawan Mosby, director and founder of the HUG Project, who was recognized as a 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero.
“Instead of using shame or telling them not to take risks, we need to listen and give them guidance about how to carefully engage in online and offline relationships,” she told the Bangkok Post.
