Academic Urges Responsible Use of 'Chiang Rai' Name on Social Media

CHIANG RAI – A communications scholar has said that using “Chiang Rai” as a page name on Facebook can easily make the public assume the page speaks for the province. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Soemsiri Nildam, a lecturer in communication arts at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, said the issue highlights media literacy, public accountability, and the real-world impact of online communication. On July 6, the case drew attention after a media network and civic groups in Phayao sent an open letter to the governors of Chiang Rai and Phayao, asking them to protect the use of the name “Chiang Rai” in media and public-service activities. Soemsiri said the case is a clear example of how online communication affects public perception, especially when a page uses the name of a province that people already recognize. Soemsiri explained that a page called “Chiang Rai” is not automatically an official provincial media outlet. Even so, most people are likely to assume that the page reflects the province or speaks on its behalf. That makes the name itself part of the message, because it shapes the province’s image and public memory. At the same time, she said readers should not judge content by the page name alone. People also need to look at whether the information is reliable and whether the creator takes responsibility for what is published. In other words, a familiar or official-sounding name does not guarantee accurate content, and a casual name does not automatically mean the content is low quality. She also addressed posts that degrade individuals or lump local people into a negative stereotype. According to her, language of that kind can create a hate-based narrative. It may not always meet the legal threshold for a crime, but it still affects feelings, widens social division, and damages relationships in the community. Soemsiri said pages like this may not qualify as professional news organizations because they do not follow standard journalistic procedures such as research, fact-checking, or interviewing sources. Even so, once a page becomes public and attracts a large audience, it carries social responsibility just like any other public communicator. That responsibility includes careful language, avoiding hate speech, sharing information that can be checked, and not posting material that harms individuals or groups. She said these basic practices matter because online content spreads fast and the impact can reach far beyond the original audience. The open letter from the Phayao media network and civic sector, she added, is a valid way for people to speak out against content they see as inappropriate. She suggested that provincial agencies could invite page administrators to discuss the issue, ask for cooperation, or set practical guidelines for using a province name in a media page or public account. Soemsiri said legal action should be considered case by case. If there is copyright infringement, unauthorized use of images, defamation, or another offense that meets legal criteria, then the injured party and the relevant agencies should gather the facts and proceed under the law. The key issue is the content itself and the damage it causes. She closed by saying the case is a useful lesson for Thai society. Freedom of speech must go hand in hand with responsibility, especially when a creator has a large following. As online audiences grow, the effects of communication grow too. For that reason, content creators, media outlets, and the public should work together to raise the standard of online communication, respect personal dignity, reduce hate, and protect trust in shared public space.