The Impact of Social Media on Thailand–Cambodia Tensions: Digital Nationalism, Information Wars and the Shaping of Public Opinion
Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and YouTube have evolved beyond being mere tools for sharing information; they have become spaces where national identities are reproduced, disinformation is spread and public perception is shaped. It is a reality that, during times of crisis, social media reinforces nationalist rhetoric, facilitates the spread of misinformation, and plays a significant role in steering narratives of conflict between state actors and digital content creators.
Social media is seen to play a significant role in the border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, particularly those centred around the Preah Vihear Temple. These disputes, which historically stem from border demarcations drawn during the colonial era, have taken on a new dimension in recent years due to the influence of digital platforms. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and YouTube have evolved beyond mere tools for sharing information; they have become spaces where national identities are reproduced, disinformation is disseminated and public perception is shaped. The study reveals that social media reinforces nationalist rhetoric during times of crisis, facilitates the spread of misinformation, and plays a significant role in how state actors and digital content creators steer narratives of conflict. The findings indicate that digital environments have become a complementary element to physical conflicts and pose new risks in terms of regional security.
The border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia are regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s longest-standing geopolitical issues. At the heart of this dispute lies the Preah Vihear Temple and the disputed border area surrounding it. The roots of the problem stretch back to maps drawn up during the French colonial period (Meyer, 2009). Although rulings by the International Court of Justice in 1962 and 2013 confirmed that the temple lies under Cambodian sovereignty, the status of the surrounding areas remains a subject of dispute between the two countries (Wagener, 2011).
The temple’s inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008 fuelled nationalist reactions in both countries and led to military tensions in the border region (UNESCO, 2021). In recent years, digital communication technologies have compounded traditional security concerns, and social media has become a new dimension of the conflict (Castells, 2015).
Historical Background and Key Actors
At the heart of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia lie maps dating from the colonial era. Discrepancies between the 1907 maps drawn up under French administration and the de facto border practices in the region are one of the main causes of the disputes that continue to this day. Although the International Court of Justice’s rulings in 1962 and 2013 confirmed that the Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia, disputes persist regarding the status of certain surrounding areas.
The key actors at the centre of the tensions are as follows:
- The Thai Government and the Royal Thai Armed Forces
- The Cambodian Government and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
- Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his political circle
- Thai political actors and nationalist groups
- Social media influencers and digital content creators
- International media organisations
- ASEAN and international organisations
During the border clashes of 2025, social media users became active participants in the process, alongside political leaders and military institutions. In particular, accounts producing nationalist content and influential digital commentators played a significant role in shaping public perception.
The Role of Social Media in the Tension Process
Social media platforms function not only as communication tools in modern conflicts but also as arenas for psychological warfare. During the Thailand–Cambodia tension, millions of users on Facebook, TikTok and X shared developments in the border region in real time. (Bradshaw & Howard, 2019).
During the conflict, military movements, images from the border and nationalist messages reached a wide audience. The Thai army warned citizens not to share military positions and stated that social media could pose a security risk. This demonstrates that social media not only shapes public opinion but also has a direct impact on security. Particularly with the proliferation of short-form video formats, emotional and nationalist content has become more visible through algorithms. This has contributed to the reproduction of historical prejudices between the two communities. The interaction-focused structure of social media platforms has accelerated the spread of polarising content
Disinformation and Digital Nationalism
One of the most striking aspects of this period of tension has been the proliferation of disinformation. During the clashes, old footage was shared as if it were current events, unverified military information was circulated, and propaganda content targeting both sides was produced. The Cambodian Ministry of Defence and the Thai Ministry of Digital Economy have warned citizens to rely solely on official sources.
The concept of digital nationalism takes on particular significance at this point. Social media users have acted out of a reflex to defend their national identity, producing content that accuses the opposing side by linking historical events to current political developments. Comments shared on Reddit and other online platforms demonstrate that tensions, which were previously confined to offline life, have been expressed more vehemently in the digital sphere. During this process, misinformation was circulated not only by individual users but also by certain media organisations and political circles; this situation illustrates how social media has become a battleground for an ‘information war’ in conflicts.
Digital Influencers and Public Opinion Management
During the tensions of 2025, social media influencers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) emerged as significant actors. An analysis published by ISEAS reveals that digital influencers do not merely relay news; they also determine how events are perceived. Whilst some content creators reinforced nationalist rhetoric, others adopted a more critical and conciliatory approach. This highlights the contradiction between social media’s democratising potential and its susceptibility to manipulation. Digital actors are able to operate independently of traditional media organisations, yet they may also remain removed from verification processes.
Conclusion and Assessment
The Thailand–Cambodia tension is one of the key examples illustrating how social media is transforming conflict processes in contemporary international relations. Disputes historically rooted in border and sovereignty disputes are now reaching wider audiences and being felt more intensely due to the influence of digital platforms.
The research findings point to three key conclusions. Firstly, social media accelerates the spread of nationalist rhetoric and exacerbates social polarisation. Secondly, disinformation and misinformation pose a significant security threat during times of crisis. Thirdly, digital content creators and social media influencers have become actors as influential as traditional media; therefore, Thailand and Cambodia must invest not only in military and diplomatic mechanisms but also in digital communication management. To safeguard regional stability, it is vital to improve media literacy, strengthen fact-checking mechanisms and develop cooperation with social media platforms. Otherwise, the digital sphere will continue to generate new arenas of conflict beyond physical borders.
References
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Meyer, S. (2009). Preah Vihear reloaded – The Thai-Cambodian border dispute. ASEAN Economic Bulletin, 28(1), 45–60.
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UNESCO. (2021). The 6th Technical Session of the ICC-Preah Vihear. Paris: UNESCO.
Wagener, M. (2011). Lessons from Preah Vihear: Thailand, Cambodia, and the nature of low-intensity border conflicts. ASIEN, 30(3), 27–43.
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