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Anna Zawilska

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Is it healthy psychologically to express ourselves emotionally over social media, e.g. in Facebook statuses?

There is sentiment that social media elements such as Facebook statuses are being used by people to get attention and to rant. As a society are we becoming addicted to expressing our smallest irritations over social media? Is it conditioning us into requiring social acknowledgement of our everyday issues? Does it give us a false sense of belonging when we share our feelings to a huge sense of 'friends'? Or are we becoming more emotionally intelligent through this expression? Does it depend on the person?

Topics: emotional healing expression human psychology social media
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    Robin Patin 10+

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    Mar 13 2012: I think it depends on the person.

    I was reading several articles that some people become depressed after reading facebook updates because it makes their lives seem ordinary in comparison to friends who seem to have an exciting update every 5 minutes. What they don't understand is that everyone self-filters on Social Media and most people will only share information that is exciting or presents them in a positive light.

    It can be good to express yourself over Facebook - if you are expressing positive or uplifting thoughts. I love to give a thumbs up to a former High School classmate that just finished her degree or a friend who is posting pictures of their new baby.

    But some people do use Facebook as a kvetch board to complain about every little irritation. I get tired of reading their endless drama and I often wonder how they make it through the day when everything is a cause for complaint.

    I've said before that you can tell who is satisfied with life and who isn't through the tone of their Facebook posts.

    • Anna Zawilska

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      Mar 13 2012: Yes you are right that there are psychological consequences not only for the poster but also for those reading the post. I think the main issue regarding the poster is the addictive quality of creating the posts but from the viewer's side there are psychological issues because you immediately compare your 'behind-the-scenes' life with the filtered 'stage' life the poster is creating.

      Could you perhaps provide the links to the articles you are referring to? I would really appreciate it!

    • Rick Goss

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      Mar 14 2012: I agree about some people using Facebook as kvetvh board (had to look kvetch up :)

      I wonder how psychologically beneficial it is for these folks when people start de-friending them because they just cannot take it any more.

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