Social media’s instantaneous feedback loop and the algorithms employed by platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have created a culture of narcissism where people put their best foot forward when they’re online.
This doesn’t mean you have to start posting your life on social media; it’s just that you need to remember who (and what) is actually influencing your actions. With so much personality projected onto screens, it can be easy for us all to forget about the physical world we inhabit – which is terrible for our mental health.
When we’re in a social environment, there are six other people present – specifically one person who we think is listening to our thoughts. Social media narcissism quotes are usually aimed at this immediate interaction, but there are less direct examples of narcissists being hyper-focused on their own status. Including the following ones.
Why Social Media Narcissism Has Been So Trending Now :
1. It’s not just kids who are social media narcissists.
Your industry, age, and sex could all play a role in what shows up in your feed.A study of 300 self-identified narcissists found that the youngest group were age 8 and 9 – a point after which everyone else was above average in their narcissistic tendencies. In another study, researchers examined male college students’ Facebook pages to find their narcissistic tendencies: they used several ways to measure narcissism, like how much time is spent on Facebook and how many friends one has.
The results showed that these male students who spent the most time on Facebook had the highest number of narcissistic tendencies, more than those who spent less time per week on social media. Overall, men aged 18 to 29 scored at a much higher level than women in narcissism – although several other studies have found that men tend to be more narcissistic than women in their youth. This is possibly due to the fact that they spend more time on screens and therefore less time interacting with others.
2. Social media narcissism can make us feel better about ourselves.
In a study of more than 200 college students, researchers found that social media use was linked to feelings of inadequacy for those who used it too much. So even though we’re being told that we’re a narcissist, spending more time on social media could be one way of coping with feelings of insecurity.
3. Sleep more.
A study of 9,000 Facebook users found that sleep was negatively associated with social media use. The more time you spend sleeping, the less you’re likely to spend on social media.
4. Don’t be so hard on yourself .
We all forget what we’re doing when we look at our phones, but it takes away from the focus needed to be a functioning part of society.It’s time we appreciate our technology for what it is and stop getting caught up in the narcissism that comes along with it! Social media shouldn’t be the one thing in life that makes us happier than everyone else – but we need to realize that’s exactly what it is doing right now.
5. Cuddling can help.
Being in physical proximity to a person can reduce our social media use and lead to better relationships, according to the Association for Psychological Science Study.
6. Your environment matters .
You’ll be more likely to reap the benefits of social media if you’re surrounded by people who love and respect you, reports PsychCentral . The more people who fulfill these criteria in your life, the less time you’re likely to have on social media.
7. Watch late-night talk shows.
They’ve all been talking about social media narcissism and how it’s affecting us. Modern Family, Parks and Rec, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver—even South Park has taken notice. Watch these shows to remind yourself that you’re not the only one who’s struggling with this excess of information!
8. Don’t stalk your exes (or your friends).
But you already knew that, right? As much as we know what we’re doing when we check someone else’s social media profile, sometimes it just becomes too tempting to resist. In fact, if you’re trying to figure out what your ex is up to these days, you might want to reconsider because it could make you depressed. According to a study in Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking , social media stalking may cause some serious mental distress.
9. Consider spending less time on social media.
It might seem like a no-brainer, but the average American spends 32 minutes per day scrolling on their phones. Do yourself a favor: take a break and put your phone down! You might find that you have more fun with real human beings than with your phone’s algorithm-curated information stream.
