Psychologists have warned excessive use of social sites like Instagram and TikTok is a tell-tale sign that someone is a narcissist.
The unpleasant personality trait is characterised as a tendency to be self-centred, have a grandiose sense of self, lack of empathy and a need for admiration.
Those who exhibit narcissistic tendencies are more likely to develop mental health problems, have relationship difficulties and struggle with substance abuse, studies show.
A new study has revealed an easy way to instantly tell if you—or someone close to you—has the dreaded tendencies; by noting if they compulsively use social networking sites and struggle to stop.
These two details suggest that a person suffers with social media addiction, the researchers from the University of Gdańsk in Poland said.
The scientists set out to identify links between various forms of narcissism and addiction to social networking sites.
They did this by conducting two surveys with 665 people who use social media, with an eight month gap between each poll.
The results showed those with certain narcissistic tendencies were more likely to be addicted to social media sites.
Some traits of narcissism, like heroism (wanting to be admired), rivalry (competing with others), and admiration (seeking praise), were found to be consistent in those with social media addiction.
However, others, like enmity (being angry at others) and isolation (being distant), were found to be more present with increased usage, suggesting these behaviours are a side effect of addiction.
The link is thought to lie in the fact narcissistics tend to be obsessed with their image, and many social sites are focused on how other people see you.
The researchers flagged wider risks of social media addiction, including little real-life social engagement, sleep disturbances, and troubles with academic or job performance.
Symptoms of the disorder include compulsive checking, an inability to cut back despite negative consequences and emotional dependence on online interactions.
It is most common in people with low self-esteem, loneliness, and fear of missing out, the scientists wrote in the Journal of Research in Personality.
In the study, the researchers examined six types of narcissism: admiration, rivalry, enmity, isolation, heroism, and sanctity.
They found that all forms of narcissism except sanctity (self-promotion) were associated to social media addiction.
Almost half of British teenagers say they feel addicted to social media and around one in eight adults suffer from a form of behavioural addiction, including excessive use of the internet, according to 2024 research by University of Cambridge.
It’s estimated that around 1 in 20 people in the UK have a diagnosis of the mental disorder narcissistic personality disorder, but the number of those who display narcissistic traits remains unknown.
Narcissists can be can be manipulative, controlling, volatile and emotionally abusive, and they may withhold love and compassion from their partners or children.
Research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology also found eating meat was a tell-tale sign linked to the personality disorder—particularly if the person provides a ‘hierarchical justification’ like ‘humans are at the top of the food chain.’
The scientists theorised that narcissists’ preference for meat stemmed from ‘Dark Triad’ personality traits ‘associated with more negative attitudes toward animals.’
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