Mar 18 2012: I don't think that opinions being spread online accurately reflect someone's authentic sentiments. The reason being, it is easy to speak one's "mind" while hiding behind a wall. There is a more impulsive element to this form of expression, and it can come off as an easy form of conveying an emotion, but on the contrary...it is not the way someone would conduct themselves in person. Due to that reluctance, I would say that emotional expression over social media is not cathartic, in fact perhaps, has a damaging and illusionary quality to it.
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A comment on Conversation: Is it healthy psychologically to express ourselves emotionally over social media, e.g. in Facebook statuses?