Narcissists are more likely to be addicted to social media, according to new research.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Gdańsk, Poland, suggests that several, but not all, symptoms of narcissism are associated with higher levels of social media use.
While narcissism is defined as excessive interest in or admiration of oneself, it can manifest in three main groups.
- Grandiose narcissism
- Vulnerable narcissism
- Communal narcissism
Grandiose narcissism is the most familiar form – the stereotypical narcissist who craves attention and believes they’re superior. This type includes traits like admiration (where someone sees themselves as especially impressive) and rivalry (where they boost their ego by putting others down).
Vulnerable narcissism, on the other hand, is more subtle. People with this style often withdraw from others to avoid being hurt – a trait known as isolation – and may respond to shame with enmity, a kind of passive-aggressive hostility.
Then there’s communal narcissism. Unlike the others, this form is wrapped in a desire to be seen as especially moral, warm, or helpful. It includes traits of heroism (the belief that one is uniquely capable of saving or improving the lives of others) and sanctity (an inflated sense of one’s own goodness or virtue).
The study found that nearly all of these traits – except sanctity – were linked to a greater likelihood of social media addiction. In other words, people scoring high on admiration, rivalry, enmity, isolation, or heroism tended to report more compulsive or problematic use of social media platforms.
In total, 339 Polish adults aged 19 to 41 took part in the study, completing a self-assessment to measure both narcissistic traits and symptoms of social media addiction.
However, as some scientists have argued, the problem of ‘social media addiction’ can be exaggerated, as it implies that all social media use is harmful.
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