People don't realise how subversive the selfie is in a culture like this," said Deakin. "The fact that the DMH warned people against selfies is interesting, and while their explanation makes sense, it also makes you wonder about the agenda there. There's a sense of higher entities using demagogy and rhetoric to hang onto power any way they can. They might be thinking something along the lines of 'know your place, why are you putting your face out there? This is unThai behaviour. Of course, Thainess is a construct, but it's deeply entrenched."
Another thing that's interesting about the DMH's warning is the advice they give to selfie addicts on the road to redemption, suggesting that if they "pay attention to people and things around them in everyday life and spend time doing activities with family members and friends such as exercising, watching movies and travelling" then things will get better.
"All the activities recommended are good alternatives to obsession with selfies," Kaewmala consented. "However, do you notice that they have little to do with interior self-development? Where is the recommendation for reading books, to improve your minds? To create with arts, ideas?"