Narcissism in the Digital Age: Social Media’s Role in Self-Obsession

By Your Health Magazine

In this era, when a single tweet can spark some spicy controversies and a post can be cashed to earn a few bucks, it is becoming impossible to resist the temptation of digital platforms, especially Instagram and Facebook. We can find and ignore the piles of information about the physical implications of excessive screen time but not the mental effects it is casting on our societies.

The constant urge of social media validation and FOMO is shaping the self-obsessed societies that are impacting our young generation. Let’s dive into this blog and learn how digital platforms are promoting narcissism in the young generation and find some ways to avoid it.

Image Source: Pexels

Are Digital Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder the Same?

If the social media feed of a person is constantly depicting signs of narcissism, it does not mean that he/she is suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and needs narcissism treatments. NPD is caused by a combination of genetics, neurobiological, and personality factors that urge a person to seek admiration from society as well as every person they meet.

Thus, their self-obsessed behavior is not limited to digital platforms but has become a part of their daily life. Moreover, that person lacks empathy and regard for other people’s feelings and adopts a self-centered behavior. On the other hand, digital narcissism is about getting overwhelmed by the flashy world of social media and a person’s approach to trying to fit into digital communities.

Exploring the Rise of Narcissism in the Digital Age

Certain research studies have confirmed that the young population is getting more susceptible to falling into digital narcissism behavior. The understood reason behind this claim is the role of social media to compel the younger generation to focus on their digital image rather than their real life. They are easy to tempt and get conscious about their self-esteem. In an unwary effort to boost their social media presence, they start to obsessively focus on themselves and adopt a condescending behavior.

Here are the two common types of digital narcissism that have been spotted in young people across the globe.

Grandiose Narcissism
Vulnerable Narcissism

In the case of the former type, the person gets into a superiority complex and starts to disregard the digital presence of other people. However, in the case of the latter type, the person adopts a touchy behavior towards criticism and is in constant search of reassurance from their social media community. In short, both types leave the sufferers addicted to social media admiration and become hypersensitive about their social media profiles.

Social media addiction is crippling our society. So, it is the individual’s responsibility to reduce this negative impact by restricting screen exposure. Getting yourself completely off social media is not a very realistic goal as the temptation will eventually pull you back. However, the only solution is to be an in-limit and responsible user, and here are some tips to help you do it.

Do a Self-Audit

A self-audit will help you to analyze your mental stimulation towards social media. Pay heed to important factors like how much time you are spending on social media, do you keep checking on the responses of the people on your pose, or whether you are comparing profiles with fellow creators. Make sure that social media remains a source of entertainment rather than a way to leave you in a continuous stress condition.

Accept Yourself as You Are

Stop seeking social media validation for your personal life and choices. Never get tempted by everything you see on social media because hardly anyone is going to post about their daily hardships. Instead, people are more considerate about posting their accomplishments but it is not the only thing that is happening in their life. Embrace your true self and post about your authentic self rather than pretending to be a flawless personality.

Take Considerable Breaks

We all would define our time spent on social media as breaks. However, in reality, we need breaks from social media. Instead of binge-watching TikTok and Instagram reels, try to break your screen time into short intervals of a few minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Moreover, rather than spending all your free time on social media, get offline, and spend some time in nature to refresh your mind. Never use social media as an escape from real-life issues as they need to be addressed at the proper time.

Conclusion

Digital Narcissism is the inevitable impact of irresponsive use of social media. So, it is high time to take a break and self-reflect your screen exposure. Stop worrying about the viewpoints of others about your life and start prioritizing yourself to find real happiness. If the situation has got out of your scope, try consulting professionals for the functional strategies to manage this situation.