Social Media Influences in the Thai– Cambodian Conflict

Executive Summary

Social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, X, and various messaging applications, 

have emerged as arenas for competing narratives in the recent Thai–Cambodian border 

crisis. These platforms have facilitated the dissemination of false or recycled footage, 

exaggerated claims regarding casualties and troop movements, and the creation of online 

"information cascades." Such dynamics have intensified nationalist sentiments, led to offline 

discrimination, and exerted pressure on political actors, thereby contributing to the 

persistence and escalation of tensions, even after formal ceasefires were declared.

1. Mechanisms: How Social Media Amplifies Cross-Border Tensions

1.1 Rapid Virality + Algorithmic Amplification

Platform recommendation algorithms tend to prioritise highly engaging content, often 

characterised by sensational or emotional elements. This preference results in the 

amplification of dramatic posts and videos related to the border issues. Consequently, a 

limited number of misleading posts can rapidly evolve into widely disseminated narratives, 

thereby influencing public perceptions on both sides.

1.2 Misinformation Recycling and False Attribution

Both parties involved frequently repurposed footage from other conflicts, such as videos 

from unrelated wars, and misrepresented them as evidence of recent attacks by Cambodia 

on Thailand. These recycled clips were disseminated widely before fact-checking could 

occur, creating misleading perceptions of military escalation among the public.

1.3 Digital Nationalism & Identity Signalling

Social media platforms afford the performance of collective identity, such as through the use 

of hashtags, profile frames, and viral commentary. In this context of conflict, ordinary users, 

influencers, and state actors disseminated nationalist content that reinforced in-group/outgroup narratives and stigmatised ethnic minorities such as Cambodian workers in Thailand.

Online vitriol quickly translates into social and economic discrimination in offline settings.

2. Concrete Examples & Documented Incidents

• Fabricated "air raid/jet shoot-down" video: A widely disseminated video claiming to 

depict a Thai jet being shot down was subsequently identified as footage originating from 

the Russia–Ukraine conflict and other unrelated sources.

• Mass fake reports and government notices: National authorities and fact-checking 

organisations reported numerous false items concerning troop casualties, evacuations, and 

alleged atrocities that circulated on social media platforms.

• Online hate translated into social/economic effects: Reports documented instances of 

discrimination and harassment of Cambodians in Thailand.

• State and elite participation in the information war: Political leaders and government 

social media channels from both sides propagated competing narratives.

3. Measured Impacts

1. Intensification of public discontent and polarisation: Increases in nationalist rhetoric and 

hate speech on online platforms.

2. Misinformation-induced situational awareness: Viral yet inaccurate claims lead to 

confusion and panic.

3. Policy and diplomatic challenges: Online narratives complicate diplomatic de-escalation 

efforts.

4. Why Traditional Checks Failed

• The rapid dissemination of viral posts, which garnered millions of views within hours, 

outpaced the slower fact-checking process.

• The limitations of platform moderation systems are exacerbated in multilingual contexts.

Conflicting official narratives contribute to diminished trust in fact-checking efforts.

5. Policy & Platform Recommendations

1. Expedited international collaborations for fact-checking are required.

2. Large-scale platform interventions to restrict the dissemination of unverified wartime 

footage.

3. Media literacy initiatives and the role of community moderators.

4. Government transparency and coordination of public messaging.

6. Conclusion

Available evidence indicates a discernible pattern: social media functioned as a catalyst in 

the Thailand–Cambodia crisis by disseminating recycled footage and false claims, thereby 

amplifying nationalist narratives and converting online hostility into tangible social and 

diplomatic repercussions. Effective responses necessitate a combination of expedited 

multilingual verification, modifications to platform design, and local media literacy 

initiatives.