In the sun-dappled town of Pattaya, Chon Buri, an unsettling incident unfolded that seemed more akin to a dramatic social media feud than a tragic real-world altercation. It all began, innocently enough, with a teasing post on social media about a girl. But on the fateful evening of July 5, at a nondescript old market parking lot, virtual jabs would escalate into real-life violence as a 16-year-old, known simply as Mon, clashed with a younger 12-year-old student, Chef. At around 5 p.m., the day’s gentle sun slanted across the lot, casting shadows as deep as the tensions growing among the youths. The younger boy, Chef, a Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) student, never foresaw that stepping into the social media fray would see him stepping into a hospital emergency room. Faced with the digital sparring triggered by his friend Toon’s post, the disagreement erupted into a challenge of physical prowess against…
