There’s a strange new trend emerging on YouTube (well actually it's been around some time). I’m talking about Thailand-based farang YouTubers who seem convinced the country is teetering on the edge of collapse - and just have to tell the world, three times a week, in shaky HD.

These self-styled “truth-tellers” are all over your suggested feed with bold thumbnails featuring red arrows, distressed facial expressions, and phrases like “Thailand is OVER!” or “Nobody Wants to Live Here Anymore!” The production quality may be questionable, but the drama is turned up to eleven.

Meet the cast - grumpy men with GoPros and a grudge

Most of these creators fall into two camps. First, the disillusioned retiree who remembers when beers were 30 baht and hasn't been happy since they introduced helmet laws. Second, the six-month digital nomad who’s now “seen enough” to declare the entire country unliveable. What unites them is a burning desire to be taken seriously while complaining about things most of us learned to shrug off years ago.  A visa requirement changes? “War on foreigners!” Rent goes up 1,000 baht? “Hyperinflation!” Their favourite street food stall moves 50 metres? “Censorship!”

Thailand through a clickbait lens

Here’s how the formula works:

Take a mild inconvenience. Add dramatic music, a tired monologue, and a thumbnail that screams midlife crisis meets Microsoft Paint. Voilà — content.

Everything gets turned into a crisis:

Quiet hotel in Pattaya? Tourism is dead.

Rainy weather in July? The climate has changed.

A less-than-warm greeting at immigration? Farangs no longer welcome.

The actual content usually boils down to: “I didn’t get my way today, so I’m declaring the end of the Thai economy”

Meanwhile, back in the real world…

Let’s step outside the echo chamber for a moment. Yes, Thailand has changed. So has everywhere. We’ve all had to adapt to the post-COVID world, rising costs, shifting policies, and the occasional confusing government announcement (or six). But here’s the thing: Thailand still works. The streets are still alive. The food is still decent. The people, for the most part, are still friendly — even when we don’t deserve it. Life goes on. People still smile. Dogs still nap under noodle carts.

We’re not living through the final season of The Walking Dead. We're just dealing with grown-up realities in a still-fantastic place.

Influencing the uninformed

Here’s where things get a bit dangerous. These doom-laden videos don’t just make long-timers roll their eyes - they actively shape the perception of would-be expats, teachers, and retirees.

People watch one of these mopey monologues and start thinking Thailand is collapsing into the Gulf of Thailand. They arrive expecting food shortages, crime waves, and revolution - only to discover they can still get grilled chicken, a beach view, and a foot massage for under 200 baht.

It’s misleading. It’s lazy. And worst of all - it’s boring.

Upcoming titles from the clickbait chronicles

Here are some future classics I fully expect to see pop up soon:

“My Neighbour Said ‘Sawadee Krap’ With Less Enthusiasm Than Usual – The Truth Behind Thailand’s Decline”

“Rainy Season Is Too Rainy – Are Farangs Being Targeted?”

“7-Eleven Toastie Price Rises – The Final Straw”

Stay tuned, folks. The melodrama never sleeps.

Thailand isn't the problem

If you’ve lived in Thailand for a while - or even just visited with your eyes open - you know the truth. Thailand has its flaws. Sure. Bureaucracy can be maddening, the dual pricing thing gets old, and sometimes it is too hot to function. But it’s also kind, exciting, funny, chaotic, and yes - still very much functioning.

So here’s my advice: next time you see a thumbnail with a panicked face and a caption like “Why Thailand Is Dying!”, don’t click. Go outside. Talk to someone. Ride the BTS. Order something spicy.

Live in the real Thailand - not the one filmed through a lens of manufactured misery.