BANGKOK– Behind the bright lights and lively streets of Bangkok, where temples meet high rises and food carts line the curbs, a quieter problem grows. Counsellors are less worried about traffic or storms these days; it is the blue glow of mobile screens that worries them most.
In bedrooms across the city, Thai men scroll late into the night, hooked on Chinese AV. What started as a small online trend has spread fast, putting strain on relationships, careers, and government policy.
Chinese AV has a strong pull in Thailand, though the reasons are complicated. Slick videos from underground studios in China—similar to Japan’s JAV, but with a different flavour—have become easy to find on secret apps and encrypted websites.
These films, full of bold storylines and forbidden themes, are now watched by many: young professionals, factory staff, and recent graduates. “It’s about escape, not just sex,” says Dr Somchai Rattanakorn, a psychologist in Bangkok who treats addiction. “There’s a sense of danger in watching something banned from a rising world power. The thrill is intense.”
Recent data shows how widespread this trend has become. A 2024 poll by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation found 68 percent of urban men aged 18 to 35 watched online porn every week, with 42 percent naming Chinese AV as their main choice. This fits what’s seen elsewhere in Asia.
Chinese AV Addiction
In China, over 70 percent of young men view porn each year, even with strict laws in place. These fans often use VPNs and apps like Telegram to slip content across borders. With nearly every Thai now online, sessions often last twelve minutes or more—well above the global average.
But for those addicted, it goes on through the night. One young man said, “Curiosity led me to Chinese AV and Japan sex stars. Now, I can’t sleep without it and lost my marriage over this habit.”
The roots of this problem go deep. While Thailand has long been famous for its nightlife and adult entertainment, a strong vein of conservatism runs through society, shaped by Buddhist values and royal influence. Pornography has been illegal since Section 287 of the Penal Code, which bans making or selling it, carrying a possible three-year jail term for Thai Porn.
For years, this law was often ignored, but the explosion of online access changed things. The popularity of Chinese AV and Japan sex soared after 2020, as lockdowns left millions stuck at home with cheap mobile data.
Sites like Asian Sex Diary and Thai Porn, which feature encounters across Asia and draw many viewers from Thailand and China, saw a surge in Thai visitors in 2022. Fans enjoy the sense of “authenticity” they get from seeing Chinese actors who remind them of tourists in Pattaya, blending local life with fantasy.
However, what starts as fun can quickly turn into a problem. Addiction shows itself in loss of control, the need for stronger material, and feelings of withdrawal similar to drug use. Dr Rattanakorn’s clinic now treats about 50 new cases a month, up from 15 before the pandemic—all men, most in their late twenties.
Rise in Divorce Rates
Many report erectile problems, depression, and drifting away from friends and family. “They end up chasing harder content,” he says. “They rewire their minds for easy reward. Their lives fall apart.” In Chiang Mai, a factory worker lost his job after staying up all night watching Chinese AV, failing to stay awake at work. “Links are everywhere, passed between colleagues,” he said. “Because it’s not Thai-made, some feel less guilty.”
The wider impact is growing. Divorce rates fuelled by online cheating rose 22 percent in 2024, as tracked by the Ministry of Social Development. Mental health helplines now get 40 percent more calls from partners who notice strange phone habits or suspicious browsing.
Lost work due to this problem could cost up to 15 billion baht, based on a 2025 study by Chulalongkorn University. Behind the screen, Chinese studios dodge strict crackdowns at home by pushing production out to Southeast Asia, often using poorly protected or even coerced migrant workers from Thailand.
“This is modern trafficking sold as entertainment,” warns Nongnart Jaiyen from the NGO ECPAT Thailand.
The government’s response is part technical, part moral mission. Thailand’s porn crackdown got its teeth from the 2019 Computer Crimes Act, which lets the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society block sites at will. The headline move was the 2020 Pornhub ban, which blocked hundreds of sites in one swoop on moral grounds.
Minister Puttipong Punnakanta said it would protect the young, but critics saw another attack on freedom, especially during political tensions. By 2025, the ministry claimed to have blocked more than 5,000 links, with Chinese AV and Japan sex a prime target.
July raids shut down server farms in 15 Bangkok internet cafes, where dubbed Chinese films were stored. “Foreign filth erodes our values,” said Police Major General Thawatchai Thongpothong. “We’re not just blocking sites; we’re going after people too.”
Officials use a mix of tactics. AI tools now watch for keywords like “Chinese AV” or “JAV Thai sub” and send flagged users to “re-education” classes, where they learn about addiction and Buddhist ethics.
Rise in VPN Use
In the Isan region, schools teach children to spot dangerous apps, while parents are given tools to filter content using the national TrueID app. For adults, the broadcasting authority orders internet providers to slow down connections to suspected porn sites.
Punishments can be harsh; a 32-year-old software engineer in Nonthaburi was fined 50,000 baht for sharing links, his story publicized as a warning.
Yet, these walls rarely hold for long. After the Pornhub ban, Thai searches for VPNs rose sharply, with NordVPN and ExpressVPN seeing double the usual sign-ups. Private online groups, like “Phua Thai AV” on Telegram, now serve thousands with direct streams for a small charge.
“Bans just push the problem underground,” says Emilie Pradichit of the Manushya Foundation. “People spend huge sums on blocking sites, while real addicts go without help.” Shame keeps many from seeking help—only 20 percent reach out, says Dr Rattanakorn, worried about the risk of arrest or public exposure.
Calls for change are getting louder. Progressive MPs from the Move Forward Party want to make personal AV use legal, arguing that rules and site checks could fund treatment programmes. “Deal with those who profit, not those who watch,” urges one draft bill.
Traditionalists push for tougher rules, supported by royalist politicians, even suggesting police should seize phones and computers. Meanwhile, groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous Thailand are expanding support sessions online, letting men talk safely about their struggles.
“This isn’t just about self-control,” says group leader Kamonchat Srisuk. “It’s a health issue affecting many.”
As Thailand heads into the 2026 elections, the story of AV addiction highlights bigger social divides: tradition meets technology, and censorship rubs up against personal freedom.
On one of Bangkok’s busy trains, a young worker sneaks a glance at his screen, joining millions drawn to faraway fantasies. Will the authorities stamp this out, or has Chinese AV become just another feature of modern Thai life, where pleasure is a screen tap away and reality feels more distant each day?
For those caught up, support comes quietly from clinics and online chats. Still, until causes like isolation and money worries are faced, Chinese AV remains an enticing shadow for many, never far from reach, no matter how many sites are blocked.
