Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha received what seemed like a year's full of social media 'welcomes' as he opened new accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on Monday.
He got an onslaught of negative feedback on his new Facebook page at @prayutofficial within minutes after it was launched, with insults answering his attempts to get "suggestions" on the social media platform.
His newly launched Facebook page asked for "suggestions" from followers. Reaction was swift, garnering more than 9,000 comments in less than 24 hours, with the majority of them negative.
"You are a burden for this country. You are a deadweight of the country," wrote commenter Kraisorn Chuakram. "If you don't resign, let's make the election free and fair."
Many also pointed out the hypocrisy of launching an online "campaign" while parties are still under a partial political ban, which bars them from public politicking or holding rallies.
"Banning others from doing campaigns via social media but opening a Facebook account for himself?" said Suvipan Jampa in a comment that garnered 1,300 reactions. "He is thick-skinned."
Some were more direct in their condemnation.
"I will vote for Pheu Thai in the next general election," said Facebook user Sichai Patthana.
The Pheu Thai party, led by former premier Yingluck before she was deposed, is associated with the Shinawatra clan -- a powerful and wealthy family that enjoys widespread support and has won every Thai general election through its proxies and affiliated parties since 2001.
Puttipong Punnakanta, deputy secretary general to the prime minister, played down the social media push - which also includes a Twitter page, an Instagram page and an official website, all sleekly designed by an anonymous media team to showcase Prayut's achievements and personal history.
The website, which uses the slogan "Stability, prosperity, sustainability", also features a survey section where visitors can select their favourite policies by the junta-led government.
Mr Puttipong said Gen Prayut's social media outreach is "nothing related to a political campaign" and is simply a way to "communicate" with the Thai public.
One Facebook commenter voiced her "love and faith" in the junta leader amidst the social media pummelling.
"Stay as long as possible. We are afraid the bad guys will come back and burn down the country again," she wrote.
Her comment got just 11 likes.
