This study investigates the sociodemographic and contextual determinants influencing Internet usage among individuals with visual impairments in Thailand, contributing to the literature on the digital disability divide. Data from the “Disability Survey 2022” conducted by the National Statistical Office of Thailand were used. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed on data from 5621 visually impaired respondents. The findings indicate that approximately 26.88% of individuals with visual impairments use the Internet. The logistic regression analysis highlights several critical disparities. Males exhibit lower odds of Internet use compared with females (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.850, p = 0.034). Younger individuals are more likely to use the Internet; a decline in use was observed with increasing age (AOR for 60+ years = 0.052, p < 0.001). Regional disparities are evident. Individuals from the northeastern (AOR = 2.044, p < 0.001), central (AOR = 1.356, p < 0.008), and southern (AOR = 1.992, p < 0.001) regions showed higher odds of Internet use compared with those from the northern region. Higher income (AOR for 5000–9999 THB = 1.798, p = 0.001), educational attainment (AOR for bachelor’s degree = 14.915, p < 0.001), and wealth index (AOR for wealthy = 5.034, p < 0.001) increase the likelihood of Internet use. Employed individuals are more likely to use the Internet (AOR = 3.159, p < 0.001) compared with unemployed individuals. Additionally, the severity of the visual impairment is crucial, with those having low vision in both eyes more likely to engage online than those who are completely blind in both eyes (AOR = 5.935, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for comprehensive digital inclusion initiatives that address various factors, including age-inclusive digital literacy programs, targeted regional infrastructure development, economic support to improve digital access, and advancements in assistive technologies. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers in Thailand and other developing countries, enhancing the understanding of the digital disability divide and informing strategies to foster greater digital equity.

As the global population ages, understanding the digital health behaviors of older adults becomes increasingly crucial. In Thailand, where the elderly population is rapidly growing, examining how older individuals use the internet for health-related purposes can provide valuable insights for enhancing healthcare accessibility and engagement. This study investigates the use of the internet for health-related purposes among older adults in Thailand, focusing on the socio-demographic factors influencing this behavior. Utilizing cross-sectional data from the “Thailand Internet User Behavior Survey 2022”, which includes responses from 4652 older adults, the study employs descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis. The results reveal that approximately 10.83% of older adults use the internet for health purposes. The analysis shows that higher income (AOR = 1.298, p = 0.030), higher level of education (degree education: AOR = 1.814, p < 0.001), skilled occupations (AOR = 2.003, p < 0.001), residence in an urban area (AOR = 3.006, p < 0.001), and greater confidence in internet use (very confident: AOR = 3.153, p < 0.001) are significantly associated with a greater likelihood of using the internet for health purposes. Gender and age did not show significant differences in health-related internet use, indicating a relatively gender-neutral and age-consistent landscape. Significant regional differences were observed, with the northeastern region showing a markedly higher propensity (AOR = 2.249, p < 0.001) for health-related internet use compared to the northern region. Meanwhile, the eastern region (AOR = 0.489, p = 0.018) showed lower odds. These findings underscore the need for targeted healthcare policies to enhance digital health engagement among older adults in Thailand, emphasizing the importance of improving digital literacy, expanding infrastructure, and addressing region-specific health initiatives.

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has transformed modern society, yet significant disparities in digital engagement persist. This study explores the third-level digital divide in Thailand, focusing on how sociodemographic factors shape digital engagement across economic, social, educational, and institutional domains. Using logistic regression analyses on a nationwide 2022 survey with 43,465 respondents, this research offers novel insights by identifying how gender, age, region, income, education, employment status, urban residency, and Internet confidence specifically affect different types of digital engagement. Key findings reveal that men are less likely to engage in online activities compared to women, while younger adults demonstrate higher digital participation. Notably, older adults rely more on institutional digital services, revealing an age-specific pattern. The study also highlights regional disparities, with the northeastern region showing higher engagement and the southern region lower across all domains. A novel finding is the contrasting role of income, which boosts economic engagement but reduces participation in institutional activities. Furthermore, this study underscores the strong role of education and Internet confidence in driving digital engagement across all areas. These findings offer crucial evidence for designing targeted interventions to bridge the digital divide, such as gender-equality-focused digital literacy programs, initiatives for older adults, regional infrastructure enhancements, financial subsidies, integrating digital literacy into education, and building digital confidence through practical, hands-on national campaigns.

Digital transformation offers transformative potential for public service delivery, yet many local administrative organizations (LAOs) in Thailand struggle with integrating digital tools effectively into their workflows. This study investigates the integration of social listening tools (SLTs) to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of public service delivery in Thailand’s LAOs. The primary goal is to redesign traditional, manual workflows through the development of a digital-by-design framework, addressing inefficiencies in public engagement and service provision. Employing a mixed-method approach, this research combines interviews and focus groups with municipal staff from four municipalities in Northeast Thailand to identify challenges and co-create solutions. The redesigned workflow integrates digital practices into existing organizational structures and achieves a significant 282% improvement in efficiency, measured in transactions per manpower-hour. Additionally, the new process enhances operational speed, responsiveness, and public engagement. To ensure sustainability, this study recommends a phased implementation strategy and consistent staff training. This research contributes to the public administration literature by providing a practical, scalable framework for digital transformation in local governance. It underscores the potential of SLTs to modernize public sector workflows, enabling more dynamic, responsive, and citizen-centric interactions between LAOs and the communities they serve.