Thailand's social media marketing (SMM) industry is experiencing rapid growth as consumers spend more time on social platforms annually, while algorithms from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube become increasingly sophisticated. Creators, entrepreneurs, and agencies must constantly adapt their strategies. This article explores five major trends that Thai digital marketing experts are focusing on and explains why like-boosting, view-boosting, and follower-boosting services remain important tools in many brands' plans.

Trend 1: Creator Economy Drives SMM Tools as Essential Factors The number of content creators making a living in Thailand continues to rise—from freelance creators to SME entrepreneurs and employees doing side hustles. This intensifies competition on each platform's feed, making SMM services a fundamental tool for professional creators to gain visibility during content launches.

Trend 2: "The First 60 Minutes" — The Golden Window That Determines Content Fate Digital marketers have identified a common pattern: all platform algorithms heavily weight engagement occurring in the first 60-180 minutes after posting. Posts with high early engagement are significantly more likely to appear on For You or Explore pages compared to typical posts, making rapid like-boosting and view-boosting services highly desirable for creators.

Trend 3: Quality Accounts Over Bots — Quality Over Quantity While SMM services are growing, the market is shifting direction as major platforms develop smarter bot-detection systems. Services using foreign bots risk client accounts being shadow-banned or restricted. Consumers are now choosing providers using real Thai accounts with distributed engagement schedules and quality guarantees, marking a clear shift toward "Quality Over Quantity."

Trend 4: Live Commerce Dominates — Boosting Live Viewers as a New Tool Live shopping on Facebook Live, TikTok Live, and Shopee Live is growing significantly in Thailand. Campaign managers have found that livestreams starting with fewer than 100 viewers have only an 8-12% chance of being recommended, while streams with 300+ viewers from the start have a 60% recommendation rate. This makes viewer-boosting for live streams an important tool for professional streamers building social proof in the crucial first five minutes.

Trend 5: Mobile-First and Short Content — TikTok Likes Become a Key Signal Over 90% of Thai social media users primarily access platforms via mobile, making vertical video content (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts) significantly more engaging than photo content. On TikTok specifically, the like feature is a critical signal that the algorithm weighs heavily, as it represents greater user effort than simple scrolling. Creators understanding this principle use TikTok-specific services alongside producing content with a clear hook in the first three seconds.

Service Providers in the Thai Market One example reflecting these trends is Ads4u.co, which offers like-boosting, view-boosting, follower-boosting, and live viewer services across all major platforms. They use real Thai accounts, require no password sharing, and employ distribution systems to protect client account security.

These five trends demonstrate that the social media marketing industry is evolving toward more sophisticated, quality-focused strategies.

At 1:00 p.m. on May 20, 2569 at Parliament, Pai Lik, deputy chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, received a complaint from actress and model Mint Petches Yongrattanmongkol and others seeking compensation for health and career damage caused by a Radiesse injection at a cosmetic clinic. The collagen-stimulating injection resulted in severe facial swelling and large lumps that cost her work opportunities, and the clinic is being held responsible.

Pai stated that the committee has received numerous similar complaints and will bring this matter before the committee's full session, inviting the clinic to participate in discussions to find swift solutions and strengthen protections for cosmetic procedure clients. The committee is also calling on affected individuals to submit their cases for consideration.

Kanthaphon Duangumporn, the committee's spokesperson, noted that such injuries cause both physical and psychological damage while harming clients' professional opportunities. The committee will expedite efforts to resolve the issue.

Romeo Beckham, son of legendary footballer David Beckham, called his father immediately after Arsenal secured the English Premier League championship this season. Previously, David Beckham shared that his son Romeo became an Arsenal fan after he took him to watch the Gunners play while living in London, England. During one of those visits, Arsenal players came to greet Romeo and gave him a signed shirt and scarf, making the son of the Manchester United legend a devoted Gunners supporter. After Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, Arsenal mathematically clinched the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. Romeo celebrated by posting childhood photos of himself wearing an Arsenal kit, while his father David shared a story on Instagram explaining that his son called him immediately when Arsenal won the championship, reminding him of the special moment.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday in a meeting meant to reaffirm ties and that takes place only days after a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China.

Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The two delegations later held bilateral talks, to be followed by a ceremony for signing cooperation agreements.

Putin's visit comes just days after Trump's own trip to Beijing – in a sequence that is meant to cement Beijing's image as an influential superpower, experts say.

"The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them," said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier that there was "no connection" between Trump and Putin's visits, noting the trip by the Russian leader was agreed several days after Putin and Xi spoke via videoconference on Feb. 4.

The Russian and Chinese leaders are set to discuss energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.

China became Russia's top trading partner following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.

China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand. China also has ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia's weapons industries.

Ushakov said Russia's oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.

During "the crisis in the Middle East," Russia remains a reliable energy supplier and China is a "responsible consumer," Ushakov said.

Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached "a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector."

"Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon," he said. "If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased."

Kem Sokha, Cambodia's former opposition leader who remains under house arrest, was reunited with his critically ill mother on the morning of 20 May after authorities granted permission for the visit. According to his lawyer, Pheng Heng, Kem Sokha was escorted by Ministry of Interior officers to visit his mother, Sao Nget, at his sibling's home in a gated community in Phnom Penh. The request for the visit was submitted on 19 May amid concerns over her worsening condition. A video posted on Pheng Heng's Facebook page on 20 May showed the 72-year-old politician embracing his mother in tears, while she appeared to hold him close and offer a blessing. Sao Nget is believed to be around 100 years old. Kem Sokha, former president of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2023 to 27 years in prison on treason charges, although the court ordered him to serve the sentence under home detention. He was arrested in 2017 over allegations of conspiring with a "foreign power" to overthrow the Cambodian government. The court also imposed a lifetime ban on his involvement in politics.

A speedboat used to transport tourists to Koh Thalu caught fire in Bang Saphan Noi district on 20 May, leaving the vessel heavily damaged and its driver injured. According to local sources, the two-engine speedboat belonged to a tour company operating trips from the mainland to Koh Thalu. The boat, which had been in service for around seven to eight years, had reportedly experienced engine problems and had recently undergone repairs. The incident occurred while the boat was parked near the shoreline due to shallow water conditions preventing it from docking at the pier as usual. Sources said the driver was preparing the vessel to pick up tourists when a loud explosion-like sound was heard as the engine was started, before flames rapidly engulfed the boat. The driver reportedly suffered burns to his arms and body while attempting to use onboard fire extinguishers to control the blaze. However, the fire spread too quickly and damaged most of the vessel. He later jumped into the sea to escape and was taken to hospital for treatment. Initial damage was estimated at around 3-4 million baht. No tourists were injured, as passengers were transferred to another boat operated by the same company to continue their trip to Koh Thalu.