A GUIDELINES FOR A BUDDHIST INTEGRATED ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS FOR THAI CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to 1) study the current situation of association with friends for Thai children and youth in the social media, 2) analyse the Theravada Buddhist doctrines concerning association and interaction with people and 3) propose the way to association with friends for Thai children and youth in social media. The thesis relied on documentary and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. There were 20 key informants for the interviews and 10 for the discussions, all of which had been sampled via purposive sampling. In analysing qualitative data, the thesis used content analysis.

          The results of this research shows that a guidelines for a Buddhist integrated association of friends for Thai children and youth in the social media can be summarized in the LOVE Model (LOVE stands for Learning from Others by being Vigilant through Experience.): categorised into 2 factors, external factor (influence of the others) which is hearing or learning from others. Others means all people that we have interacted with them. They must perform their responsibility duties in accordance with interaction rules described in Disa 6 principles. Then internal factor (Yonisomanasikara) which is critical thinking based on information given from external factor plus own empirical experience would result in thorough determined all aspects during critical thinking. Practicing this guidelines for association will enhance the process of critical thinking. Therefore child and youth will be immune against counter problems resulted in reducing risk from online threat.