digital media communication

Digital Media and Change in Society’s Value Structure

Digital media has resulted in an increase in the beliefs, characteristics, and behaviors shown mostly by millennials, who are the most frequent users of social media. There has been a change in society’s value structure, with millennials more inclined to respect extrinsic qualities such as wealth, celebrity, and image. Prior generations, such as the baby boomers, placed a greater emphasis on fundamental qualities such as self-acceptance and association. According to research, social media has played a significant role in this change in social belief structures. A critical concern is whether social media has facilitated powerful interaction or whether it has contributed to an uptick in narcissistic malaise. After considering these two aspects, there is more weighty research and evidence that favor the position that social media use has to a greater extent led to narcissistic malaise to the users (Mehdizadeh, 2010).

Social Media as a Tool of Self-Promotion

Social media is mostly used as a tool of self-promotion. This position is supported by a survey of personalities of social media users conducted using a Narcissistic Personality Inventory questionnaire. Several researchers have tried to map the connection between the use of social media and narcissism. The approaches used have concentrated on tracking the behavior and activities done by various social media users while online. Researchers have found out that only a few users engage in useful debates on essential issues in the society. The majority use social media as a tool for self-promotion by posting their best pictures and updating their statuses more often. All this is meant to create an image of a perfect lifestyle which more often than not is usually false. Laura Buffardi researched how narcissism manifests itself in social media use. She found that individuals who score higher on narcissism tend to have more Facebook friends, changes their statuses often and tags themselves more on photos (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008).

Falsified Image on Social Media

Social media is often used to create a falsified image of the users. Research shows that people often utilize social media especially Facebook to look special and important so that they gain self-esteem and attention from other users. The objective of this exercise is usually to broadcast a picture of a perfect life to the online friends. The negative side of this aspect is that most people display the unrealistic portrait of themselves. It is more often used to cover up the weaknesses rather than building self-esteem. Keith Campbell noted that Facebook users compare their lives with others in a negative manner, which lowers their self-esteem. Therefore, the falsified image they project in social media is meant to cover up their weaknesses and deficiency in self-esteem (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008).

The Relationship Between Self-Promotion and Narcissism

A study conducted at York University in Canada aimed at explaining the relationship between self-promotion and narcissism. It surveyed some young users between the ages of 18-25 by reviewing the contents they post on Facebook. The sample users were then evaluated based on the narcissism personality and the self-esteem scale. Self-promotion was identified in the aspects of updating status frequently, posting pictures of themselves regularly, and glorifying themselves. The study concluded that those who used social media most have narcissist and insecure personality.

Social Media and Bloated Sense of Self-Importance

Social media has created in people a bloated sense of self-importance. Users feel that their opinions, lifestyle matter a big deal and thus go to lengths trying to portray this to the online community. Elliot Panek from the University of Michigan observed that young adults who have a high regard for their own opinions mostly tend to use the Twitter platform. The personality of narcissism entails individuals wanting their views and opinions to dominate over others’. In this way, social media has contributed to the development of narcissistic malaise especially in young adults.

Narcissism and the Negative Effects on Teens

Larry Rosen researched in California State University and found out that the teens who spent most of their times on Facebook show narcissistic behaviors. The teens also exhibit behavioral problems such as antisocial behavior, poor academic performance, and aggressive behaviors. The freedom of use builds ego and pride among the social media users which promote narcissistic malaise. It also diminishes the self-esteem of users who compare themselves to the other users. The narcissistic teens on rare occasions engage in important debates with their colleagues. They spend most of their time by themselves or on their gadgets. The aim is to promote their virtual personality and look superior to others which are false confidence. Psychologists claim that digital media build false self-esteem in teenagers. It creates negative esteem rather than what is expected by the users (Mehdizadeh, 2010).

Social Media Use and Negative Relationship Outcomes

Rusell Clayton conducted his research in Missouri University which entailed the relationship between social media use and relationship between couples. Couples who have a tendency of posting various aspects of their relationship in social media often aim at escaping the real-life challenges affecting their relationships. Couples who find it necessary to exhibit their ’perfect’ relationships on social media, which may not always be the case, target at showing their online friends that they are doing ’better’ than them. Again, the findings showed a strong correlation between social media use and negative relationship outcomes such as divorce.

Promotion of Narcissism on Social Media

Digital media promotes narcissism to a greater extent as compared to powerful participation (Carpenter, 2012). Social media platforms especially Facebook has been listed as the major place where people showcase their positive lifestyle and covering up their shortcomings. This is according to research done by Eliot Panek who analyzed Facebook and Twitter. From the research, he found out that those who scored higher in narcissism were more active on Twitter. The individuals tend to evaluate their opinions on Twitter depending on the narcissism score. Therefore, narcissism is promoted on social media more rather than powerful participation. Twitter was traditionally known for important debates like politics, but it is currently used for self-promotion whereby those who score higher in narcissism glorify themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is overwhelming research that associates the use of social media to narcissistic malaise. In comparison, the role of social media in promoting powerful participation takes a back seat. The majority of social media users who spend a considerable time online on a daily basis have been found to have narcissistic personalities. They majorly use social media to paint a picture-perfect lifestyle to show to their online friends. However, the image and lifestyle projected are often exaggerated or falsified. Therefore, social media has played a prominent role in promoting narcissistic malaise (Carpenter, 2012).

References

Buffardi, L. E., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Narcissism and social networking web sites. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 34(10), 1303-1314.

Carpenter, C. J. (2012). Narcissism on Facebook: Self-promotional and anti-social behavior. Personality and individual differences, 52(4), 482-486.

Mehdizadeh, S. (2010). Self-presentation 2.0: Narcissism and self-esteem on Facebook. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 13(4), 357-364.