[Steve_Seattle]

"There’s social pressure to which most people succumb to express currently popular opinions on social matters, especially, now, gay marriage. Daring to contradict a statement about the wonderfulness of gay marriage instantly earns the poster a ‘homophobic’ label."

But is that pressure greater on social media than in person-to-person interactions? I don't think so, unless the person-to-person interaction involves only one or two people who you know and trust.

[EDINVA]

oh, I think peer pressure is amplified in social media. Let’s say you have 100 friends: all of them (can) see your interaction with Liberal Friend. If 50 or even 5 of the 100 are liberals, you are potentially alienating that 5 or 50. Similarly a liberal can alienate his/her conservative friends/family.

One of my nephews is extremely conservative, and a niece is correspondingly liberal. They barely speak any more as a result of Facebook. It’s gone beyond just ‘unfriending’ someone with differing views. Just a pity.

Personally, I keep away (mostly) from politics on FB, get enough right here. And I stay away (mostly) from religion at FR. Works well for the blood pressure.