Introduction
The world today has developed in terms of social connectedness like never before in human history. Such a paramount change has been achieved due to the development of digital technologies in general and the Internet, smartphones, and social media in particular. With the advancement of social media as an omnipresent and dominant means of communication worldwide, its disadvantages and risks for young people have become more evident and actively discussed. Due to the ease of use, accessibility, and the benefits of connecting with the world without leaving one’s comfort zone, people have become capable of creating a perfected public image through social media postings.
One might suggest that although such images might not always depict reality, youth who use social media excessively compensate for the lack of attention and approval in real life. In such a manner, the focus on self and constructing a perfected image in search for approval and recognition online serve as a basis for developing a narcissist disorder in youth as a psychologically vulnerable population. It is claimed that due to the ability to construct a self-centered public image through social media postings, psychologically vulnerable youth are susceptible to developing narcissistic disorders, which jeopardize their healthy socialization in the future.
Social Media as a Personal Image Reaffirming Setting
In the contemporary developed world, it is difficult to imagine a person without a smartphone or an account on a social media platform. Having substituted conventional means of communication, social media have entered the lives of the majority of populations worldwide, introducing them to the benefits of ease of connecting with a large global Internet community. The most frequently used social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest (Hawk et al. 68; McCain and Campbell 314). While the benefits of being connected are obvious, there are significant risks associated with the inappropriate or excessive use of social media.
It is particularly relevant for teenagers who experience a lifespan shift toward socialization, which might be impaired by the threats of social media. Indeed, according to a recently conducted survey among teenagers from the USA aged 13-17 years old, 89% of respondents stated that “smartphones are a highly common means of accessing social media” (Hawk et al. 65). With such a prevalence of exposure to social media as a primary communication and socialization setting, adolescents are likely to be influenced by the particularities of such platforms. As stated by researchers, social media reinforce self-expression through posting a photo or video content, as well as sharing ideas, feelings, thoughts, and opinions with others online (Hawk et al. 65-66; McCain and Campbell 309-310). Thus, the very design of social media platforms predetermines the focus on self-image and reacting to others’ self-expression through comments and reactions.
Narcissism as a Mental Disorder
Exposure to an online environment that reinforces self-expression and self-centered behaviors increases the likelihood of developing mental disorders related to self-perception. In particular, narcissism or narcissist disorder is a condition characterized by the Narcissist Personality Inventory as having “self-ascribed authority, superiority, and entitlement, as well as self-absorption” (Bhachech 155). Importantly, the prevalence and rate of narcissism have intensified over the past decades, which is related to “the popularity of social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram” (McCain and Campbell 309). Researchers differentiate between grandiose narcissism, which stems from an extraverted and superior personality, and vulnerable narcissism, which is related to an introverted and neurotic personality (McCain and Campbell 309). However, social media-implied exposure of self to others involves the development of a grandiose narcissism type. In such a manner, a person with such a disorder is obsessed with self-image and the praising and approving perception of them by other social media users. The disproportionate focus on the public image, which commonly represents a better version of a person due to the excessive editing of content before posting, triggers further narcissistic behaviors in real life.
Reasons for Developing Narcissism in Youth Using Social Media
The reasons for youth’s proneness to narcissism when using social media include their age-based vulnerability, the popularity of selfies, and the opportunity to create an alternative reality. Indeed, adolescents’ vulnerability due to socialization challenges and age-specific psychological changes serve as key factors for their susceptibility to excessive social media use (Malik et al. 332). When using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and others, they search for positive feedback and praise, which are the symptoms of narcissism. Moreover, their struggle to enhance their social presence is associated with inexperience in communication. That is why they seek “balances between an appropriate amount of personal disclosure versus sharing “too much information,” and between staying connected to others versus becoming too dependent on the technologies that provide this access” (Hawk et al. 65). Such problematic socialization based on teenagers’ psychology leads to their proneness to narcissism as an adverse outcome of unhealthy use of social media.
Another reason is the popularity of selfies which are photos of oneself made by oneself. Research studies reveal that teenagers develop a dependency on taking selfies and posting them online in search of approval or recognition (Bhachech 153; Malik et al. 331). Since social media platforms promote such content, selfies are being made and shared on a daily basis leading to a disorder similar to narcissism, which is called selfitis (Malik et al. 332). Moreover, it is claimed that posting selfies has become “one of the most important avenues for the satisfaction of basic social needs through social networks (SNSs), namely the need for self-presentation” (Bhachech 154). Indeed, when sharing a selfie, young individuals expect positive reactions and appraisal, which would ultimately generate their higher self-esteem and even pride. For that matter, they intentionally improve their images by editing them to ensure their virtual identity is worth appraisal. Such behavior ultimately leads to the development of narcissistic characteristics.
In addition, the ability to create an alternative reality through the depiction of the best features in oneself is another reason for youth’s susceptibility to narcissism expressed on social media. Since users have complete control over their public image displayed online, they eliminate or withhold negative characteristics and demonstrate the content they want others to perceive. In such a manner, the virtual identity does not match the real-life one, allowing for experiencing appraisal than might be missing from everyday life. Research shows that teenagers are most likely to post about their accomplishments as compared to sharing their personal problems or feelings (Anderson and Jiang). Figure 1 shows the percentage of US adolescents posting a particular type of content on social media. Thus, narcissism is particularly dangerous for vulnerable teenagers who depend on the social perception of their better selves online.
Threats and Outcomes of Narcissistic Disorder Developed Online
The problem behind narcissism based on social media behavior is a significant one due to its far-reaching negative implications. Indeed, when learning to socialize in an artificial setting, teenagers lose connection to reality and misinterpret real-world communication situations. Moreover, their perception of self is jeopardized by the comments, likes, and feedback they obtain from social media, which enhances their narcissism and satisfies their need for self-expression.
Researchers find it is threatening for teenagers to be excessively exposed to social media due to the impairments in the personality development of young individuals. In particular, individuals with narcissistic personality disorder facing a stressful situation are more likely to experience ego-failure, which is based on the inability to perceive criticism or rejection. Thus, “aggressive self-enhancement and excessive or addictive behaviors are the main avenues through which narcissists’ needs to sustain inflated self-concepts foster interpersonal difficulties” (Hawk et al. 67). In such a manner, maturing, youth suffering from social media dependence and narcissism are more likely to fail at social interactions, communicative problem-solving, and fitting in society. For that matter, it is important to address this problem and minimize the threat of developing narcissism in youth to mitigate long-term risks.
Possible Solutions to the Problem
Given the severity and omnipresence of social media-related narcissism in teenagers, this issue might be difficult to tackle. However, some of the ideas that might be effective in minimizing the risks and facilitating the benefits of social media use are as follows. Firstly, since this problem concerns minors predominantly, it is parents’ responsibility to monitor for risky behaviors and educate their children on the proper ways of expressing themselves online. Secondly, educational settings, such as schools and colleges, might initiate instruction and training on the ethics of social media use, focusing on the threats excessive exposure might bring. Thirdly, the promotion of face-to-face communication in teens and minimization of social media time might be helpful interventions to encourage real-life socialization and the ability to handle sincere interpersonal interactions. The implementation of these practices is likely to prevent narcissism in youth and maximize their opportunities to socialize healthily in the digitalized environment.
Conclusion
In summation, this research paper has presented an overview of the problem of narcissism that prevails in contemporary youth due to their problematic use of social media platforms. The excessive exposure of teens to social media platforms coupled with such factors as age-based socialization vulnerability, selfies’ popularity, and virtual identity perfection leads to a non-realistic self-image. Young users of social media networks are more likely to post selfies compulsively, edit their content before sharing, and seek favorable feedback from peers online. In turn, the satisfaction of self-expression, praise, and acceptance needs afforded by social media settings reinforce self-absorbed behaviors. Ultimately, such individuals are at risk of failing to handle criticism, rejection, and face-to-face communication in real life. More research on the issue, as well as raising awareness about narcissism and social media, are needed to develop ethics of online self-presentation without harm. Thus, it is important to implement educational measures to regulate the social media behaviors of minors and prevent the development of narcissistic disorders.
Works Cited
Anderson, Monica, and Jingjing Jiang. “Teens’ Social Media Habits and Experiences.” Pew Research, 2018.
Bhachech, Jyotik Tarak. “Selfie and Narcissism in Young Adults.” TAZKIYA: Journal of Psychology, vol. 9, no. 2, 2021, pp. 153-163.
Hawk, Skyler T., et al. “Narcissistic Adolescents’ Attention-Seeking Following Social Rejection: Links with Social Media Disclosure, Problematic Social Media Use, and Smartphone stress.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 92, 2019, pp. 65-75.
Malik, Najma Iqbal, et al. “Narcissism and Self-Esteem as Predictors of Selfitis among Youth.” Rawal Medical Journal, vol. 45, no. 2, 2020, pp. 331-333.
McCain, Jessica L., and W. Keith Campbell. “Narcissism and Social Media Use: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Psychology of Popular Media Culture, vol. 7, no.3, 2018, pp. 308-327.