Technology is a fundamental part of human life today. Almost every human activity is reliant on technological advancements. New innovations in this field have made people more connected despite the distance that exists between them. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised on the impacts of technology on narcissistic behavior. Davidow (2013) gives insight on a recent study which indicated a dramatic rise in narcissistic personalities for the 1980s. Social media sites not only increase the levels of depression and anxiety but also encourage narcissistic tendencies in the younger generation
The physical interactions that restrain behavior are not present in the virtual world. It is in social media platforms that narcissism, malicious, infantile, and impetuous delusions emerge. In most cases, the characteristics that people have in the virtual world are assimilated in their offline personalities. Apparently, many narcissists use social media to feed their egos. The platforms expose many to popularity competitions as well as experience apprehensions which have increased the rates of depression as a result of being out-twittered.
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Penman (2016) argues that narcissism has become prevalent in modern society. The rates of narcissism have grown dramatically in today’s generation, as compared to others. Technology has made people more focused on themselves. Most people think that they are more invisible and superior to others. Furthermore, they believe that everything centers around them. Notably. the growing emphasis that is put on children’s self-esteem and its contribution to success have increased narcissist tendencies among the younger population. Self-love has not amplified the levels of happiness. Instead, it has made people miserable and anxious. Penman (2016) claims that people have expectations that fail too much reality, which inhibits them from being as successful as their parents expect. Social media creates platforms in which people can compete and show how successful they are. The intense competition that is posed in these sites has made people more depressed, decreasing the quality of human life.
Firestone (2012) attributes the high levels of narcissism to Facebook. Studies conducted over the years show that individuals with the highest narcissist personality scores have a lot of friends on Facebook. In addition, these people tag themselves more in photos and make frequent updates on Facebook. Apparently, most individuals use these platforms since they believe that many people are interested in their lives. These sites promote self-promotion by allowing people to look unique, enabling them to gain more attention from others, which in turn boosts their statuses and self-esteem Majority of social media users display an unrealistic portrait of themselves in these sites, which negatively affects their followers psychologically. Usually, teenagers believe others have happier and better lives. People compare themselves to other Facebook users makes them feel worse about themselves
Social media has trillions of users globally. Individuals find solace and friends in these platforms. To many, these sites are their fortresses of solitude. Nonetheless, it is crucial for individuals to protect themselves from the adverse effects of social media. People should retain perspective and not allow egotism to set their standards. It is critical for individuals to know that being popular on social media may be due to high scores in the narcissist personality inventory. Therefore, having fewer followers on these sites does not necessarily mean that one is imperfect. Instead, it indicates that a person is normal. Normalcy should be one of the goals that narcissist aim to attain. Nonetheless, if narcissistic personality become a societal norm, then it should be considered a severe disorder.
References
Davidow, B., (2013). The internet ‘narcissism epidemic’: Don’t let popularity set your standard. The Atlantic. Retrieved from
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/the-internet-narcissism- epidemic/274336/
Firestone, L., (2012). Is social media to blame for the rise in narcissism. Psychology Today . Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/compassion-matters/201211/is-social-media- blame-the-rise-in-narcissism
Penman, M., (2016). Me, Me, Me: The rise of narcissism in the age of the selfie. NPR . Retrieved from
https://www.npr.org/2016/07/12/485087469/me-me-me-the-rise-of-narcissism-in-the- age-of-the-selfie
