For a very long time, people write to express their thoughts and emotions, usually in diaries or on pieces of paper. But as time passed by, they turned to digital platforms, where expressing themselves became more accessible with only one click away. 

From traditional diaries to rant accounts on social media, writing has evolved into a way for people to share their thoughts, document their experiences, and release emotions in a space of their own. 

People nowadays use “rant” accounts on social media channels like X and Facebook to express their unfiltered thoughts, emotions, frustrations, personal complaints, and commentary. 

While this may be similar to “dump” accounts, they differ in purpose. Rants accounts are primarily used to vent about personal experiences or express frustrations, while dump accounts are often used to share random photos, everyday moments, and casual updates that users do not necessarily want to post on their main accounts. 

Kristine Kae Robles, who has been using a rant account for eight years, told POP! that rant accounts are more personalized and only certain people can see it. 

“You don’t really have to maintain a certain image. You can just be yourself and post whatever you feel,” she added. Her rant account gives her a space to express herself freely without worrying about others’ perceptions. 

Paula Glenda Cheng, a psychologist from MindBridge explained that people tend to engage in “hypercommunication” when interacting through technology, as they may express more of themselves through words and photos without the tone of voice and contextual cues present in face-to-face conversations.

“That [rant] account is always open and within the reach of someone,” she said, adding that it lets the emotion feel without the need to confront others.

According to Cheng, rant accounts serve as a form of emotion regulation. “We share and we process our emotions in a semi-public space.”

She added that posting online helps people to not feel alone and even gain validation from others on how they feel. 

Journaling and having a rant account serve the same purpose: expressing emotions and personal thoughts. However, they differ in their intended audience. Journals are typically private while rant accounts may be shared with certain people.  

“’Yung journaling and even ranting allows us to label or to name the feeling para mas madali siyang i-control [‘yung emotions],” Cheng said. 

“Knowing na may mga taong nakaka-relate sa experience ko, it makes me feel less alone and it reminds me na hindi lang pala ako ‘yung nakaka-experience ng gantong feelings,” Robles shared. 

Some people would consider rant accounts as the modern form of journaling. 

“It’s like an online diary where I can document what I’m feeling while also having the chance to connect sa mga taong siguro makaka-understand sa akin,” Robles said. 

Rants accounts may have selected followers or no follower at all, depending on the user’s preference. 

For Robles, her only criterion for her account is that one must not be a “snitch,” or someone who reveals another person’s secrets without permission. 

At times, Robles said she carefully considered what to post on her rant account, knowing her followers would read it. “There are times na nagdadalawang isip ako kung ipopost ko ba ‘yung gusto kong ipost, especially kapag personal siya or sensitive,” she said.

In psychology, there’s a process called “impression management,” a conscious or subconscious process where people regulate and control information to influence how others perceive a person, object, or event. 

In this case, rant account users tend to share only selected aspects of themselves, according to Cheng. 

“The more people we know, the more we edit ourselves because we want to share the version of ourselves that people might like. Minsan ini-exaggerate natin, minsan tino-tone down natin, para ma-accept tayo,” Cheng said. 

Cheng said that using a rant account can be beneficial because it fosters a sense of belonging, helps shape one’s identity in the digital age, and provides “catharsis,” or the release of pent-up emotions. 

However, excessive use of rant accounts pose some limitations. “It becomes unhealthy kapag you keep the post because it earns attention,” she said. 

Cheng added that ruminating and oversharing can also contribute to the negative effects of continuously using rant accounts. She encouraged people to explore other ways to regulate their emotions and to seek validation from within rather than from others. 

“It always starts from within, your compassion for yourself, your kindness for yourself, the non-judgment that you give to yourself,” she said. 

In the digital world we live in, rant accounts can serve as a space for people to express their emotions with just a few clicks. However, users must still establish clear boundaries and remain mindful of what they share online.

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