How social media turns people into narcissists.

Keeping up with fresh profile pictures, maintaining accounts instead of real relationships, uploading photos of meals on social networks instead of enjoying the moment... our social lives have completely transformed in just ten years.

Alongside all the pros and cons, social media also alters our personalities.

Be honest with yourself... have you uploaded pictures without any filters or gone on vacation without publicly announcing it on social media?

Social media pushes us towards narcissism. Those days when only actors and models were obsessed with their appearances are long gone... Narcissism has become a global epidemic, to the extent that people who are not active on social media are considered abnormal!

When discussing narcissism, it is essential to remember that we are referring to narcissism as a personality trait, not NPD (narcissistic personality disorder), which requires clinical intervention.

This term was borrowed from a Greek myth, where a young man named Narcissus was obsessed with his appearance and spent most of his time gazing at his reflection in a lake.

Individuals who score high on the personality trait of narcissism exhibit characteristics such as inflated self-esteem, perceived uniqueness, interpersonal grandiosity, exploitative behavior, and a high need for attention.

Narcissists have a strong need for recognition, which is why they are often seen as boastful.

When we look at social media, all the tools used on social networking sites cater to a narcissist's need for validation and approval. Here, social media creates a vicious cycle, where already existing narcissists receive their daily dose of acknowledgment by uploading photos, while social networks themselves help people develop and maintain narcissistic traits.

Since narcissism craves constant validation, social media serves as a drug for many individuals. From the incessant uploading of photos and the "selfie obsession" to anxiously counting likes on their pictures and followers — all these are tools of social networking sites that make narcissists feel better. Narcissism is particularly pronounced among teenagers. A study conducted by San Diego State University involving 16,000 college students found that 30% of them were narcissists based on psychological testing.

Selfies help narcissists affirm their appearance. In fact, selfies have become so significant that most phones are now equipped with high-resolution front-facing cameras. The popularity of selfies has surged to the point where in 2013, the Oxford Dictionary named it the "Word of the Year."

Social networks feature various filters with different lighting and color effects that significantly enhance the original image, helping to create an inflated self-image. Before social media, we confidently took pictures with our natural looks because that was the only option, but many people have lost confidence in posting without enhancing the original image with a filter. These filters actually make you love the original image less, don’t you think?

Since narcissism feeds on external approval, it is not only about our appearance but also about the influence a person has within their circle. This influence can be quantitatively measured by likes, followers, and friends on social media.

Narcissists utilize these social media tools to showcase to the world that they have a broader social reach by accumulating as many friends as possible. The higher the numbers, the greater the boost or recognition narcissistic individuals receive.

When we visit any social network, we not only witness the actions and thoughts of many people but also experience a wide range of emotions.

When we see happy posts from others, such as photos from weddings and vacations, it’s hard not to feel envious. People also undergo emotional fluctuations when visiting any social networking site. Since narcissists have fragile self-esteem, they experience more intense shifts in their emotional state. Compared to others, narcissists feel happier when they are approved or praised, and more anxious and even excited due to less favorable outcomes on social media, such as receiving fewer likes on a photo.

But do all people experience such emotions? No! Individuals with higher levels of extraversion, lower neuroticism, and conscientiousness experience more positive and fewer negative effects when visiting social networking sites. Narcissism also leads to a greater number of plastic surgeries, materialistic attitudes, and attention-seeking crimes — such as assaulting or trolling someone online.

It all comes down to balance. Try to limit your time spent on social networking sites and see if you notice a difference in your mental state.