A Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller for the PlayStation. (Photo by Olly Curtis/Future via Getty … [+] Images)

Future via Getty Images

The PlayStation Network is down. Known colloquially as PSN, this online service allows users of Sony consoles to play online. But, over the last several hours, PSN has been suffering a series outages, disrupting people’s gaming plans.

This event propelled many people to social media, where they’ve been discussing and venting about the situation, creating a whirlwind of posts and memes about the PlayStation Network.

PSN going down and leaving many people stranded from online gaming is a fascinating case study of how the online world can be used as an emotional regulator, as well as a tool of connection.

Before we arrive at this conclusion, let’s have a quick glance at what’s happening with Sony’s gaming service.

What’s The Status Of The PlayStation Network? Why Is PSN Down?

According to Down Detector, users started to report issues with PSN around 3pm PST/6pm EST on Friday, Feb. 7.

Not long after this, Sony responded to users’ concerns, confirming the issues with its digital service:

At the time of writing, PlayStation users in the U.S. and beyond are still experiencing issues with PSN, with many unable to game online, access the store, or even manage their accounts.

It’s unclear what’s causing the outages, as Sony hasn’t doled out any firm details, but one thing’s for sure: people are heading to social media to share memes and post about their frustration.

How Is Social Media Reacting To PSN Being Down?

Thousands of users flooded to social platforms to vent about the status of the PlayStation Network. Interestingly, a common trend involved users making memes complaining about PSN’s outage impacting their post-work plans:

Another thread found on social media is an expression of anger about the issues with the PlayStation Network:

Or, indeed, a sense of panic and sadness:

Other accounts are digging into history and reference the last PSN outage of this scope, something that occurred in 2011:

These irritated and concerned reactions are highly consistent across social media, with hundreds of posts, viewed millions of times, expressing these feelings.

So what’s driving this response? Why are people heading online to vent?

Why Is Social Media Reacting This Way To The PlayStation Network Outage?

There are several theories that can explain the online reaction to PSN being down. One of the clearest is simple: people want to game online, but can’t. This is frustrating—especially when you pay for a service that’s delivering what it promises.

The reaction can be examined a little deeper than that though.

Humans are naturally adverse to change. Psychologically, we find losing something particularly tough. Indeed, much research has established that the emotional impact of deprivation is more impactful than a corresponding gain.

In other words, losing something hurts more than getting something.

This means that when a service like PSN goes down—which is an integral part of many gamers’ lives—it can be uniquely stressful. Combine this with the fact it happened on Friday night, something many users referenced online, and this can create a turbulent emotional situation where people’s relaxation plans are interrupted.

What we’re seeing on social media, then, could be viewed as a mass venting of frustration.

Various studies have been done on the importance of humor as a coping mechanism. As one posits, “humor can be defined as a hedonistic escapism strategy that would work better in the presence of unpredictable or uncontrollable stressors.”

By heading to the internet and creating memes, gamers are coming together and finding a way to manage their emotions in a situation they have no sway over. Yes, many users are reacting strongly and expressing anger and panic online, but this can be viewed as a way of lessening their feelings, rather than trying to amplify the outrage.

Think of it as a form of management, not antagonism.

Ultimately, for many gamers, PSN is a vital part of both their lives and their unwinding routines. This service being down can be stressful, provoking humanity’s innate aversion to loss.

In these situations, social media can be a salve. By making a humorous post or meme, gamers who are panicking or angry can channel and potentially reduce this emotion, giving them more of a sense of control over a situation that, fundamentally, is completely out of their sphere of influence.

Yes, PSN is down, and, yes, many users are alarmed—but social media is helping alleviate some of this emotion. And for that, we should be thankful.