Dr. Blog, Certified Therapist

             We all know that social networks, or a web of social relationships that joins people together, are a major part of almost every body's life these days. These networks consist of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and many more. People log on to connect with their friends and perhaps people they have never met but share a connection with. These sites create a place for people to express their feelings and thoughts, and in the case of blog sites, such as this one, Blogger, and Tumblr, people can use these sites to vent and commiserate with other people. Teenagers compose the majority of users. A recent study suggests that blogging can actually be therapeutic, in much the same way that diaries were used before the age of computers. A study published by the journal Psychological Services and the study, which took place in Israel, asked teenagers, many who were struggling to make friends and fit in, to blog about their difficulties and the social issues surrounding them. Psychologists then analyzed the blogs and concluded that blogs could indeed be a source of encouragement and relief when positive commentary was allowed and received.
           I thought that this article presented an interesting point. I personally don't use Tumblr or Twitter but I am a member of Facebook, and I know for sure that I enjoy logging on and talking to my friends, many of whom are at college and don't live near me. We can laugh and joke and commiserate about our bad classes or weird roommates. The Internet has become one of the main ways that people connect and stay connected and I know that my life has changed for the better because of these sites.


Posted by Audrey Tuna

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/fashion/blogging-as-therapy-for-teenagers.html?scp=2&sq=teenage%20groups&st=cse