13 Jun The Connection Between Social Media and Narcissism in Today’s Youth
On May 23, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning about social media’s impact on young people’s mental health. “Teens who use social media for more than three hours a day face double the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, which is particularly concerning given that the average amount of time that kids use social media is 3 1/2 hours a day,” the Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy- told media outlets.
However, there may be a darker side to the influence of social media can present a risk to youth mental health as their brains are affected by the amount of time they spend using it. The consequence includes increased levels of narcissism in our young people. A study published in the Journal of Personality analyzed data from 85 samples of American college students and confirmed that narcissistic traits in youth are increasing. Additional research in 2008 in the Journal of Personality found further increases in narcissism in young adults and proposed two reasons for this increase. The first influence on the increased rates of narcissistic traits is the effect on youth’s self-concept resulting from the increased focus on building self-esteem, or the “participation trophy” generation. The second is the influence of the internet and social media, which encourage young people to focus almost obsessively on themselves and their public image.
A 2018 study in the Psychology of Popular Media Culture journal examined the etiology of social media usage. The researchers sought to determine if social media influenced narcissistic traits. The results indicated that grandiose narcissism appears to be positively related to time spent on social media websites. Grandiose narcissism was positively related to time spent on social media, the frequency of status updates, the number of friends, and the number of selfies posted.
A literature review conducted in 2020 found that narcissism and problematic Facebook use were positively associated. This research, however, highlights that narcissism might have different effects across social media platforms. The researchers identified that assessing problematic social media use requires distinguishing different platforms to define risks adequately.
There exists a call to action for school administrators and mental health professionals to educate youth and parents on the dangers of social media usage. Not just in the risk of developing mental health symptoms of depression, eating disorders, or anxiety; but also increased risk of narcissism and lack of empathy. Supporting youth’s development of healthy boundaries and balance with their social media usage will help to inform more stable overall mental wellness. Establishing boundaries such as limiting the amount of time on social media sites, specifying times when they do not engage, and not using social media while simultaneously interacting with others face-to-face can help combat the risks associated with social media use.