Office Diaries

An insider's guide to success in the workplace

by Donna Flagg

Top Five Therapeutic Effects of Facebook

Could people be healing themselves with Facebook therapy?

Published on August 31, 2011 by Donna Flagg in Office Diaries

For better or worse, whether you are "on it" or not, there's no escaping Facebook. And while there are plenty of good reasons to use it, there are also some interesting themes arising that I think speak to the organic process of human experience. So, for all its pros and cons, let's not overlook Facebook's ability to work therapeutic wonders. It really is a fascinating study in human nature:

1. A case for healing. We write to dead people.

2. A shot of self-esteem. Merely post or change a picture of yourself and you will no doubt be inundated with people telling you how hot, beautiful, gorgeous and young you look.

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3. A way to purge. Why, you can unload on the last person who made you mad, do it in third person for all to see, and then erase it as if it never happened. Talk about psychologically cleansing!

4. An opportunity to connect. People can reach down and pull up their deepest, most intimate thoughts and share them with several hundred or thousand people. And they do!

5. A moment of closure. It's as simple as going to "relationship status" on your profile and clicking "single." There. Done. Now doesn't that feel better?

In the meantime, what I haven't figured out are the messages to children who are clearly too young to read, and sometimes talk, let alone be on Facebook. So, who are those messages for if not the recipients? Anyone?

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