Do social media platforms offer a new way of connecting, or are they just narcissistic?

Social media platforms are unquestionably a modern track to connect and communicate with others in real time with a wide audience. Nonetheless, exactly like other tools, how they are used diverges from person to person. When individuals use platforms to promote themselves, trying to seek approval, or interacting with others sharing interests, it can lead to ambiguous or narcissistic behavior.

A peculiar drawback is that people can become addicted of getting attention through likes, comments and shares, eventually succumbing to the constant pursuit of external pleasure. Furthermore, the cult of image and the psychological pressure to portray barely the most attractive and goodlooking aspects of one's life can result in a distorted perception of reality. For instance, this can develop in continuous conflicts with others which can increase reactions of inadequacy and insecurity.

“Social media is used by almost 60 percent of the world's population, and as of July 2022, global social media adoption is continuing to rise: new users are joining social media platforms at a global average rate of seven users per second” (McKinsey, 2022)

The scholar McKinsey made a clear and smooth study asserting that social media has altered the way people socialize, do business, shop, date, come up with ideas and receive news. The world we knew, until not long ago, it was dependent upon typewriters, handwritten letters and newspapers; no eyes on the screen for hours, no photos immortalizing food, more genuine everyday events, more teas or coffees savored at the bar and more natural relationship.

Then, it began to take on high-tech forms which, lots of years in the past, it could have been considered almost alien technologies. Later, within a few hundred years, a sequence of scientific revolutions took place. These revolutions were impressively successful. Consequently, it is permissible to say: “A small step for man, a big step for humanity.” Just think of social networks like Tik Tok, Snapchat and BeReal, computer and iPhone innovations or mass digitalization. Finally humanity had reached great horizons.

“Social media as we know it probably began in 1997 with SixDegrees—a short-lived social-networking website for making friends. Personal blogs became popular with the launch of LiveJournal in 1999. And the early 2000s saw the launches of the now-ubiquitous social-media platforms LinkedIn and Facebook.” (McKinsey, 2022)

According to this statement, it can be inferred that everything has been augmented by the inclusion of:

-Social networks, like Facebook and Twitter where people are allowed to forward relationship with family, friends and perfect strangers. Moreover, through these platforms, users can share personal thoughts, photos, life updates and more.

-Media sharing networks, like Instagram, Tik Tok, BeReal, Snapchat where consumers can upload photos, videos and other types of media. Indeed, it is no coincidence these networks are the realm of social media influencers. Social media platforms are being used by well-known users to impact their audience's lifestyle, consumer behavior and other aspects; perhaps, people can ponder of Kardashians’ sisters or Chiara Ferragni. Additionally, by cooperating with these influencers, companies can target specific audiences and promote their products or services, like Apple with iPhone or Sony with PlayStation.

-Discussion Forums, which are open space networks where a user can share advices and recommendations or simply to pose a query trying to discuss a varied selection of topics. For instance, industries can use discussion forums to acquire research insights into new potential markets. Corporations can find advertisements, answer consumer questions and provide customer service by responding to compliments and complaints.

-Consumer Reviews, like TripAdvisor, quite handy platforms where people sometimes rely on during holidays or while choosing a particular cuisine or restaurant. Especially here, consumers have the ability to indulge in either positive or negative comments about a product or service they have used.

It is specifically young people who spend social nets the most. They know better than old generations how many advantages socials can offer, such as conversing about shared interest’s topic, spreading opinions, exchanging ideas and talking with faraway friends. The sharing of valuable or useful content is promoted by social media, which also pushes the dissemination of information. Perhaps, this is one of the most important advantages of the internet world.

Among the multitude of benefits, there are knowledge and information growth. Firstly, educational content, tutorials and online resources are accessible through social systems, which can be a useful tool for education, allowing young people to stay up-to-date with events, news and trends while expanding their awareness in various fields. Secondly, the web provides instantaneous access to an extensive scale of data and prospects, leading to new passions and significant personal development.

Creativity and social awareness are other compensations. Young individuals are increasingly turning to social networks as a means of voicing their opinion on social, political and environmental issues. They are capable of raising perception of important issues, promoting positive causes and participating in public debate on relevant issues. Inventiveness is the ability to foster oneself and one's own interests and thus to express one's individuality.

Nevertheless, there are numerous disadvantages to bear in mind, including a toxic addiction and a loss of time; in fact, it's easy to fall into a virtual trap which leads to spending too much time online while missing out on important activities like studying, work, or devoting time to family and friends.

However, involving other cons, there is an increasing evidence of cyberbullying and risks of privacy. Cyberbullying, personal information acquisition by third parties, sharing sensitive photos and information, they are all potential risks who young people can face on social networks. Teens' reputation, safety and well-being can be damaged by these dangers.

Eventually, in the virtual environment, bullying can be committed anonymously and it's obvious that the whole thing origins in young people a sense of weakness. Actually, it has a range of negative consequences such as lowering self-respect, mental health and social relations.

By connecting to a social network, your mind is also connected, which means having access to the entire world, which means everything is at your disposal. It would be wise to consider the potential influence of media and the ability to exert control over it. It is possible to lose control of one's actions on social media with ease. Influencers who use public media to create a digital identity can be a good case in point; in fact, by posting content, it is possible to produce an image of yourself that shortly after is reflected through the population who views the exposed content.

However, the influencer's reputation can fluctuate depending on the content, the number of times it is shared, and what kind of content is public; therefore, the whole thing tends to idealize their image lingering almost enslaved to the expectations of others, both intentionally and involuntarily.

Social media has been used by many to fully define their identity. Nevertheless, a leak of sensitive data, or content which could undermine one's figure, it is identical a time bomb. A case could be the one of Chiara Ferragni who after reaching her peak of success quickly during the years, she has now found herself with a broken career due to some devious discoveries made about charity and some implications with the Italian house of production of Balocco.

Accordingly, many of her followers found themselves outraged and condemned her on having a punishment. On the web, for those who are very famed and affluent and owe much of their wealth to social media, it is realistically similar to a monarch climbing on a guillotine during the time of monarchies’ fall.

However, since years, online experience is roughly incomplete without social sharing, which allows users to voice their opinions, reveal experiences, spread news and take part in global conversations. The latter is a form of supremacy which intercepts digital power in a naive way. However, it can quickly let the user become well-known or not.

While the act of boosting one's ego through social networks, it can be viewed as narcissistic, there are also positive aspects to consider. Whilst, social platforms provide a variety of entertainment content, including humorous videos, memes, games, and more, which enable individuals to have a good time online. On the other hand, the use of social media has become a crucial source of information for many individuals; users can receive real-time news about global events, politics, sports, entertainment, and other topics of interest.

Additionally, public networks have significantly improved the potential for individual appearance in order to reach a large audience in a short period of time. Furthermore, there has been a demand for professional networking which facilitates individuals to explore for jobs and connect with employers through sites such as LinkedIn or Indeed.

Similarly, corporate enterprises and businesses have benefited of social webs and networks since they are consumed by companies to promote their products, interact with customers, oversee market research and shape their own brand. Social media exhibits a vast audience of prospective customers and diverse marketing tools.

Numerous psychological researches have been carried out on the subject, important revelations; one of the most intriguing has been conducted by the academic Maslow in 1954, who founded a pyramid of human needs when they come into contact with online social situations. Thus, according to the intellectual, collective media sharing is driven by our need for belonging, esteem and self-realization.

“In order to achieve communal acceptance from a group similar to ourselves, we frequently reveal and publish personal content which inclines to portray the exact image we want to depict, leading to a link between psychology and social media. Although the demand for esteem and self-fulfillment is imperative, not always it is relevant; as a matter of fact the people want to communicate their identity on public channels, not only out of vanity.” (Maslow, 1954)

The virtual social world encourages humans to look for rewards ridiculously as mercenaries in war. Thinking of likes and positive comments on our content as a form of validation for our own self-worth. Studies have shown that receiving many likes can boost users to share more content. Hence, this interaction has a convinced impact on our psychological well-being, influencing our feeling of appreciation or disapproval from the public.

On the other hand, it is also true that often on social media people tend to show mainly the happy side by making their lives seem perfect, regardless of what actually happens in reality. Therefore, this could be spotted as a deviation from reality itself.

However, a fascinating news article of 2022 inspired by ‘Talkwalker’, a web page, it was reported by one of Italy's best newspapers, La Repubblica. The news identifies 2023 as the year which has marked the long-awaited end of third-party cookies; nonetheless, Google has once more postponed the end of cookie usage until 2024 to enable the testing and utilization of the Sandbox Privacy API.

What are third-party cookies? Do they have anything to do with privacy? The answer is yes, or perhaps. Therefore, third-party cookies allow you to individualize your web experience and leave a trail of information which tracks the sites you visit. Despite consumers' concerns about cookies' lack of privacy, 70% of advertising specialists believe that advertising will be decreased if cookies are deleted.

Besides, the note of the managers of Talkwalker was published in La Repubblica saying:

“Google's response is still pending, but consumers are seeking a drastic and rapid change. As a result, consumers' frustration with the problem only grows, resulting in a delay in finding a defined solution.” (La Repubblica, 2022)

The news provides valuable information which aids the identification of social media and its standards. Not everything on the Internet is true. In fact, while brands, celebrities, even governments, are facing the consequences of fake news, on the other hand, deep-fake AI-generated video content is used to trick people into believing events which never happened.

Europol emphasizes how technology can be utilized by organized crime, as commercially available software can produce incredibly realistic celebrity videos. However, the lack of control over individual users in social networks has been one of the most disturbing challenges lately. The network's management determines what can be published, how to keep data and what type of censorship to activate with consumers increasingly being left out of the decision-making process.

A significant event happened in 2024, which would lead to the establishment of more user control in decentralized social webs. This implies different levels of censorship and freedom of expression are expected by consumers but without central control there is a greater risk of toxicity and radicalization.

Currently, social commerce's rise and fall have been discussed. According to La Repubblica, several experts have reported in-depth statistics on social media purchases, with 49% of users in China making purchases compared to 44% in the United States. As a matter of fact, in the year 2023, Chinese social commerce has projected roughly 14.3% of eCommerce, compared to just 4.9% of the US. The prospective for growth is colossal as the digital post-pandemic and furthermore, the cost of living, it increases the demand for accessibility, resulting in consumers being more eager to explore new shopping channels.

Moreover, there are two arguments which are not yet mentioned in this essay and one of them is the concept of the metaverse, a hybrid of digital, augmented and real-world reality. This notion has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years. The metaverse's winners and losers will be determined by consumers who will assess if these new realities meet their real needs. The advancement of AI is generating interest and sparking many conversations; in fact, AI's prominence increases each year as it is increasingly integrated into the concept of the future in all fields.

Considering the psychological aspect of the issue, a crucial question to consider is: Can real connections be made in the age of social media? Can modern platforms aim to lessen loneliness and promote a honest dialogue? Lara Otte, a licensed clinical psychologist and executive coach who operates in Seattle and nationwide through remote technologies, she conducted a superb and intensely psychological study which was discussed on the web periodical page Psychology Today.

As well, the psychologist sits on the advisory board of Friended, a social networking platform which aims to promote genuine human connections. Yet, the analysis focused on real and human interactions and it has been performed few years ago, precisely in 2019; indeed, the release of the article has been posted the same year, in December, on the journal.

Hence, the scientific article examines certain aspects of social media and the amount of connections it generates, especially in the United States, results which are not encouraging; however, what outcomes is that never as in recent years, loneliness, a feeling which arouses from the overuse of technologies and social networks, seems to have become epidemic in the US. Two on five Americans, sometimes or always, feel isolated from others (the statistic shows about the 43% of US people).

“These statistics are alarming. Loneliness affects every aspect of human biology, including an increased risk of physical and mental health problems. In addition, loneliness is a major obstacle to experiencing happiness and well-being.” (Lara Otte, 2019)

The research is to contemplate as alarming because if the data were reported in 2019 with these percentages, would there have been any changes since then? Have there been improvements or worsening? In many cases, it makes sense to assume that there is nothing which can prevent loneliness, social isolation and disconnection. It's appropriate to debate pseudo connections as opposed to real connections at this point.

In other cases, social media has provided new ways to hook up with others positively; currently in USA almost 80% of Americans are using it. Traditional social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can technically connect us with others but it tends to be about performance rather than meaningful human conversations for many. In the interview mentioned before, Dr. Lara Otte, established some valuable observations on the effects of technology on the people and their personal links, with a deep analysis which concerns the impact on the emotions of the humans.

“The effect of technology on our personal human connections is common parlance among psychotherapists. On the positive side, we observe how technology creates new opportunities to connect with others and can offer a bridge to those who struggle to make in-person contact. But the capacity for negative impact exists, too; social media can cause real pain and alienation when trolling, bullying, ghosting, popularity contests, and images of perfection (reinforcing the insecurity that “you are not enough”) are prevalent.” (Lara Otte, 2019)

Although society can describe real connections differently, most people would define a genuine connection as having someone to call a factual friend, feeling like you belong to something or someone and showing yourself as you are. However, Dr. Otte's research has demonstrated human beings require sincere bonds with others to thrive, which are formed over time through small exchanges of mutual openness, curiosity, empathy and generosity.

Furthermore, to make honest relationships, emotional security is essential. Vulnerability and courage are necessary to make real acquaintances. Acceptance, not judgment, is required to feel comfortable being psychologically reliable and taking sensitive risks. The interview guided with psychotherapist Otte brings to light another worthy aspect which is not to consider trivial, which notes:

“We all have the same deep fear of being wrong, criticized, and made to feel small. These experiences - in real life and in social media - cause a state of disconnection, both from ourselves and from other people. This can happen in obvious ways or in more subtle ways that add up over time. When we do not feel valued, when we feel insufficient, we fear being disconnected and alone. We feel shame and we want to hide or blame someone else. Shame creates further fear of social risk and after enough shaming experiences, we stop putting ourselves out there. We don’t let ourselves be seen and our feeling of loneliness grows. It is a vicious cycle.” (Laura Otte, 2019)

Designing a virtual life is a complex task because if done incorrectly, it can curve into a form of narcissism and selfishness, which is the most negative viewpoint. Conversely, previously, it was mentioned a more concrete case which is the debate about data on the negative effects of certain types of social media use and the prevalence of cyberbullying which is leading to a shift in the digital territory. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Instagram boss, Adam Mosseri said:

“The idea is to try and reduce anxiety and social comparisons, specifically with an eye towards young people.” (Adam Mosseri, 2019)

Cyberbullying is a punishable offense according to government laws. Furthermore, digital security can be threatened by two other common phenomena: phishing and sextortion. Highly relevant is to understand the negative impact of social networks on mental health, it is crucial to further explore this topic. It is possible to recognize a critical perspective and a collective discussion which asserts the digital world and virtual connection are fundamental component of our lives.

The persistent exposure to filtered content and tension, or propensity, to aspire to perfection can lead to harmful social comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a critical and responsible viewpoint while using social networks, educating young people to be aware and navigate safely in this virtual world. A balance in personal expression can be achieved by using the internet consciously without falling into a whirlwind which can be defined as narcissistic.

It is my firm belief, for this to take place, it is essential to educate new generations about the conscious use of social media and foster a sense of respect online. Similarly, schools and families should take an active role in safeguarding young people from these risks in order to minimize menaces and maximize benefits. There is always a beginning, even to reach collective welfare. Though, this hypothesis is exclusively personal and it is based on previous analyses and research.

Nevertheless, the market is reacting to the requisite for a trustworthy, reliable and reassuring human interaction. Some statistics of psychotherapists during 2023 have confirmed, on Bloomberg News, there is a new tendency of social media; virtual platforms are signaling a shift away from the algorithms which rely on ads to determine popularity and accordingly it tends to fuel the pressure in order to be perfect.

Besides, the abuse of social networks can result in various disadvantages, such as digital dependence, privacy loss and spread of fake news or inappropriate content. Furthermore, the desire to become almost divine may lead to too much psychological strain while presenting themselves to the world and sharing certain content. Social media, if used in the right way, it has great potential to stimulate and link people.

In conclusion, as social media evolves, it will become easier and easier to select platforms which offer us real human connections and the sense of belonging that we all need. These days it is already pretty sad knowing that many people, particularly children, they find it challenging establishing practical human connections without the use of social media, never mind opening up and sharing vulnerable opinions, feelings and experiences. The pros and cons of public networks require careful assessment for conscious and responsible use, especially among young people who are more exposed to these hazards.