Choose Change: New online platform by Thai teens sparks conversation on politics and social issues

BANGKOK: When the death of African American George Floyd during his arrest fuelled the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, 16-year-old Pollisa “Polly” Tien-iam-arnan was observing the unfolding series of news developments in Bangkok.

She noted that the events had engaged so many social media users in Thailand, especially among people her age.

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The hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, a gesture of defiance against injustice and racial discrimination in the digital community, was seen plastered on Thai social media, where netizens condemned what they believed were acts of injustice.

So on Jun 4, when news broke about the alleged kidnapping of Thai political dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksi in broad daylight outside his Phnom Penh residence in Cambodia, followed by widespread allegations against the Thai government, Polly expected an equally robust response on Thai social media from her peers.

But all she witnessed was silence.

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“A lot of Instagram users I was following, who are Thai, decided not to post or put in any hashtag of any sort. A lot of enthusiasm that I saw over the Black Lives Matter movement wasnt reflected in Wanchalearms disappearance,” she recounted.

Thirty-seven-year-old Wanchalearm was among several Thai political activists summoned by the authorities after a military coup in 2014. He fled Thailand for a life in exile before he was reportedly seen grabbed by armed men and taken away in a vehicle in early June.

Until today, he remains missing. And to Polly, not enough has been said about his disappearance. She believes it is evidence of a clear disconnect between many Thai youths and socio-political issues involving their own country, particularly among her cohort, who include the children of some of Thailands wealthiest.

“I think that this choice to disconnect stems from the fact that Thai people are scared to touch on politics in fear of offending someone and situations where they have to defend their own opinions,” she said.

The fact that they can just drown out everything thats going around outside of them is really scary.

This was something Polly and three of her close friends aspired to change. In April, they founded a digital platform called Choose Change to encourage an exchange of views on politics and social issues both in Thailand and abroad.

The four founders – all school students aged 16 and 17 – hope the platform will help expose more teenagers like themselves to current affairs, generate more discussions and a sense of social responsibility, and inspire them to change their society for the better.

“CHOOSE CHANGE”

Current affairs may not be a common topic of discussion for many young Thais but for the likes of Polly, youths should be more aware of key issues affecting their society and get involved in finding solutions.

“If these people are to grow up to be some of the most influential people in our country, I think its very important to work with what we have and try to make them at least aware that there are other people that are actually going to be affected by the policies they implement and change that they place in this world,” Polly said.

Currently operating as a website with an Instagram account, Choose Change has gained more than 1,000 followers since its launch. The platform allows people wishing to share their opinions on any issues they are passionate about to submit articles, which will then be discussed, edited and published on the website and social media.

The aim is to reduce the gap between young people and socio-political developments around them by sharing short and colourful articles written with a personal tone and mostly by people their age.

READ: Thais flock to new drive-in cinema amid coronavirus

Each month, Choose Change comes in a different theme, for example, Black Lives Matter and Pride for June. So far, it has published more than 20 articles, with topics ranging from mass shooting to abortion and mental health.

“When youre not constantly reminded there are these issues, even though you can be very passionate or really want to care, not being exposed constantly makes you forget about it,” said co-founder Pimnara “Fin” Boondoungprasert.

Just because it doesnt affect us doesnt mean its not there. It doesnt mean its not important.

Since the launch in April, the team behind Choose Change has grown from four to 25 members. Most of them are Thai school students who want to use their voice to bring about change in society.

Some issues have attracted more discussion than others, and comments reflected both agreement and disagreement. But regardless of the feedback, the four founders are happy to see conversations already beginning to spread among young people, no matter how big or small the circle is.

“A lot of people are silent because of the cancel culture. If your opinion isnt like the majority of the media, youre not accepted, which I feel is totally wrong,” said co-founder Rosalyn “Rosie” Bejrsuwana.

Interest in social issues and Thai politics does not come naturally to everyone at Choose Change. For Rosie, she said it only hit her recently when she went to the US to study.

Calling herself “ignorant”, the 16-year-old said she experienced a different kind of society in the US, where she attended a public school and got to know many people who can access fewer resources compared to what she had in Bangkok.

READ: Alleged sex attacks on schoolgirls in Thailand prompt national reckoning on patriarchy, gender bias

“I lived in a bubble,” said Rosie, referring to her fine lifestyle and education at an expensive school in Thailand.

In the US, Rosie lived by herself and worked part-time at a restaurant to earn money after school. Without her familys constant support, she took a new look at the world around her and became more interested in social problems as well as politics.

“I experienced a lot of racial discrimination and all that. And that shocked me,” Read More – Source