Space of Exclusion and Subjugation but also Democracy: Social Media for Political Demonstration among Thai Youth

Abstract

Social media has often been anticipated as a promising space for political engagement, given its accessibility and interactive features. Yet, previous studies have highlighted its limitations, arguing that it fails to embody an ideal public sphere. Rather than reconciling these opposing views, this paper connects them by examining social media as a specific and localized space within the Thai context. Drawing on Habermas’s (1989) notion of the public sphere and Lefebvre’s (1974) concept of social space, the study explores how social media functions politically. Forty university students across Thailand were interviewed to capture their perspectives on using social media for political purposes. Findings reveal that while social media is not an ideal sphere of free and open participation—due to significant controls and structural powers—it nonetheless provides a practical space for democratic expression. For many Thai students, social media remains a promising arena for political participation and demonstration.