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If baby boomers were the “Me Generation,” then it’s not too far fetched to call Millennials the “Me Me Me Generation.”
By all standards, we are all becoming more interested in extrinsic values. An increasing number of studies show that narcissistic personality traits are on the rise.
It’s not clear how big of a problem this trend is, but everyone agrees that it’s not a positive change. The causes of these changes in self-perception are diverse and complex. But if there is something that cannot be denied, it is that they adapt almost perfectly to the equally growing trends in the use of social networks.
Difference Between Self Esteem and Narcissism
Self-esteem is generally considered a positive and healthy trait and is sometimes confused with narcissistic behavior.
The fundamental difference between the two is that self-esteem stems from real and measurable achievement, while narcissism stems from a lack of it.
When people achieve tangible positive things in their lives, their self-esteem naturally increases. That’s good. Having high self-esteem is one of the key factors in having stable mental health.
In a narcissistic person, by contrast, it is the lack of achievement that drives the behavior. That is exacerbated by the presence of social media. Narcissists act out of fear of failure and, furthermore, fear of being perceived as a failure.
These feelings of inadequacy begin to inform people’s decisions, and that creates a codependent relationship with social media.
The role of social networks
In a world filtered through social media news, criteria of truth can be distorted.
If a person finds themselves in a situation where things presented on social media easily pass the required criteria for truthfulness, they will be incentivized to trust those channels more and more.
This, in turn, results in a disregard for actual concrete achievements. After all, if what is presented on social media has a real impact on their lives, why should it be treated as if it doesn’t?
The “offline” world becomes less and less interesting. And you can’t entirely blame the people.
If putting shares in your social media persona has a better return on that investment, why wouldn’t we all want that? Sure, there are long-term implications and complications, but most humans don’t think long-term.
What is the problem?
It may seem harmless or just plain eccentric at first glance, but this narcissistic behavior has serious downsides.
Many negative trends in mental health can be attributed to this behavior with some certainty. People, especially younger generations, show higher rates of hyperactivity disorders.
One can easily see how explosive rates of body dysmorphia may also be related to this. In a world that takes the perfect selfie, not having one can be a source of consternation.
Addictive personality disorders are also on the rise. Many studies have clearly shown how addictive social media can be. If you’ve ever felt anxious when your connection drops and you can’t check your notifications and update your news, you know what we’re talking about.
All of this adds up to a steady rise in cases of depression in young people. For many people who want to focus on their intrinsic values, it is terribly discouraging to live in a world that belittles them for not embracing extrinsic values.
Social networks, the perfect connector or a clear and present danger?
It’s not going too far to say that social media is definitely to blame for some of the narcissistic tendencies in our modern world. Study after study has shown circumstantial links between social media use and increased narcissistic traits.
The question is what to do about it? We can’t just get rid of it. Any coherent plan must include social networks as present in our lives in some way. Perhaps we should focus on how we can go back and use social media to deliver the benefits that it clearly can deliver with less consequence.