Have social networking sites become the new form of progressive psychology? Are they rapidly reaching a stage where they can provide valuable prescriptions to those suffering from the Chronic “Loneliness” Disease?
Allow me to share with you my personal and humble view on this subject.
No matter how independent we are, we derive our identity from the world around us and that is a fact no one can deny!
Take me for example; I have been a writer for more than 12 years now, and counting. When I’m suffering extreme fevers of loneliness, anger or depression, writing gives me a certain level of relief and pleasure that I’m usually unable to feel through face-to-face communication with a friend or a family member. Writing to me, such as a painter’s drawing or a musician’s song, is the most free form of venting!
Now, after the emergence of blogging and social networking sites, and after having experienced venting to an audience, I have been able to find a different and deeper kind of comforting relief; one that has a purer and more prolonged lasting effect! I’m sure you’re wondering how. Let me explain further.
Psychologists have been studying the loneliness cause-and-effect relationship and have been effortlessly trying to bring solid solutions to the field of this study. They have been able to discover that any form of emotional and mental stress can be healed through sharing painful experiences, even if with strangers, and that the fastest cure for any loneliness symptom seems to be socializing, both offline and Virtually (online)!
As the old African proverb states,
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
And I agree: being both lonely and alone is never an easy thing to deal with!
Through my research, I’ve stumbled upon many loneliness blogs that have been set up to help people understand the need for social connection. Since we all know that loneliness is global and “misery does enjoy company”, people are ready to share their private experience pertaining to loneliness if they think that there are others out there who are able to listen, empathize and maybe even share their own sad stories as well!
Furthermore, and as you may already know, females tend to be usually more prone to feeling loneliness than men do! Have you ever wondered why statistics show that only LinkedIn has the highest number of males as compared to any other social networking site? I can tell you, surely, that it is a professional website in which one lacks the ability to meet new people, post pictures or notes about their daily lives as opposed to the infamous Facebook for example!
When I was younger, I used to write to myself and maybe share my experiences with one or two friends who usually did not care much to read! Nowadays, and thanks to Facebook and Blogger, I am able to vent out to people who have the choice to read and comment on my writings at their own pace and in their own style. The highlight of any day for me is getting a few comments complimenting my writing talent or agreeing with me on the topics I address in each of posts.
So, am I being unconsciously psychoanalyzed and are SNSs the right cure for me?
I would love to hear your comments…
