The Grecian story of Narcissus tells of a man who is so beautiful that any person who sees him falls in love. Narcissus, who rejects everyone who attempts to court him, is cursed by one of his scorned courtiers who wishes “that he may suffer the way he has made others suffer.” The goddess Nemesis, who delivers vengeance for acts of arrogance, then curses Narcissus to fall in love with his reflection.
Upon seeing himself in the reflection of a pond, Narcissus is stuck viewing a cursed gaze trying to gain his favor. Narcissus died of a broken heart knowing he could never be in a relationship with his reflection.
The Greek fable is the origin of the terms “narcissism” and “narcissist” today. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is marked by an external need for excessive and continuous validation to maintain one’s self-esteem.
With the introduction of social media into the social health of young adults, a demographic already predisposed to narcissistic traits is seeing an increase. A study published by the Journal of Personality found that college students who took the Narcissistic Personality Index had a significant increase in their scores from 1982 to 2006.
In the follow-up study, researchers found these scores had increased even further with the two noticeably different factors: an increase in “building self-esteem in young people” and the internet, with a specific focus on social media.
A single like on a social media post produces a dopamine response that triggers our brains’ reward system and can cause social media addictions. A 2022 study found young adults with grandiose or vulnerable narcissism, along with young adults with a strong need for narcissism, were at a higher risk of TikTok addiction.
Young people who use platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are more likely to have high levels of grandiose narcissism. The format of these platforms is conducive to narcissistic behaviors.
Frequent Instagram users were reported to have higher levels of vanity, exhibitionism and self-centered behaviors than those who use the app less. With the introduction of Instagram Notes, which has the ability to give quick, rapid and low-effort updates, teens are using the app as a self-promotion tool for dopamine and quick reward release versus a way of communication.
In a 2020 study, it was found that vulnerable narcissists, characterized by hypersensitivity to criticism and a constant need for reassurance, are more likely to become addicted to platforms such as Facebook. They are also more likely to suffer from insecurity and anxiety.
According to the study’s researchers, “The higher the narcissism level, the more anxiety symptoms are experienced that foster the development of addictive tendencies.”
This newer method of narcissistic gratification has been coined digital narcissism. Digital narcissism, according to Psychology Spot, is expressed through a series of extreme actions such as sharing excessive amounts of selfies or moments on social media platforms. There is an emphasis on sharing to the degree that some, or many, of these moments can be considered intimate.
In 2021, Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, testified in front of the Senate Commerce Committee to address concerns about the social media platform's effect on teen users. Mosseri reassured the platform's goal to address the negative impacts of Instagram while also emphasizing the collaboration of policymakers and the social media industry to create universal protections for youths.
"I want to assure you that we do have the same goal. We all want teens to be safe online,” Mosseri said. “The internet isn't going away, and I believe there's important work that we can do together — industry and policymakers — to raise the standards across the internet to better serve and protect young people.”
Mosseri also called for more protections and inputs from parents and regulators on content online.
"The reality is that keeping people safe is not just about one company," Mosseri said. “An external survey from just last month suggested that more US teens are using TikTok and YouTube than Instagram.”
Mosseri launched a “Take-A-Break” feature later in the year. The feature reminds users to take a break after a certain amount of time scrolling through the app, also giving them the option to set reminders for themselves. Instagram has also established parental controls and content restrictions to protect younger audiences.
With the rise in narcissistic traits in young adults, including record highs in narcissistic personality traits in college students, many researchers are faced with the task of finding a solution to this increasing concern.
Humility is described as understanding one’s true importance and accurately assessing one’s self-worth. Psychologists emphasize humility’s ability to foster empathy, compassion and pro-social behavior as it influences a person’s mental well-being and shapes how they interact with others and their behavior.
It may also be Gen Z and future digital generations' only hope in combating this problem.
