Digital narcissism is a symptom that something is wrong
Are you one of those people who do not lose the opportunity of pulling out the mobile phone and take a selfie? Are you distressed when no one likes your photo and extremely accomplished when you realize a ‘ red dot ‘ there in facebook notifications? Can’t live without being in part of several groups of “friends” online? If the answer is Yes, you may be showing symptoms of what experts call a “digital narcissism”.
Photo: Daniel Mafra/cancaonova.com
What is narcissism?
Greek mythology tells us of a young man with immeasurable beauty called Narcissus, that seeing his beautiful reflected image in the waters of a lake he fell in love with himself and ended up being engulfed by his own beauty, falling into the lake and drowning. This myth was later used by Psychiatry and psychoanalysis to classify people who are extremely concerned about self-image, generally very vain, who need attention at every turn in an attempt to be always in evidence. All this because there is an investment of libido (psychic energy) back to his own self, that – subconsciously – end up regressing into childhood behaviors of high-browdrama and uncertainty, as if he or she were to lose the love of people they love or suffer abandonment by parents.
The image society
The modern world revolves around show. The important thing is the body, the look glamorous, exciting, beautiful, flawless. Television, magazines, social media produce and profit from offering us this image of the”perfect model” and “success”, while that shows us also references that we need to emulate them, to be “photogenic”. Without realizing it, you’re there, posting a selfie with clothes like the novel, the actress ‘ the healed body”of that model, the same haircut and a tattoo of that football player.
An example of this phenomenon of overshoot of the image is today one of the most important items in the academies – more than their own devices – is the mirror. The problem is that it doesn’t show us the empty interior and the anguish of the soul, but it has revealed that behind each photo – is the biceps, PECs, glutes or just a pretty face-maybe there is a cry for help.
The digital world and the new “Lake of narcissus”
Just like Narcissus saw his image in the mirrored lake and fell in love with himself until the he suffered the consequences, today we have new waters which reflect and amplify an inflated image of ourselves. We all know someone who doesn’t miss an opportunity to show him/herself on the internet, including to ridicule.
The problem, however, is not the internet or social networks itself, but something is not right in person. Every attempt to post a new picture or receive a tanned hide the need for external acceptance to compensate for low self-esteem, is very common in narcissistic people. These people need help not to “drown” in the sea of digital world, to the point of losing touch with reality.
How to tell if I’m digitally narcissistic?
-Can’t be more than a day without posting personal photos in different social networks?
-It makes me sad, depressed or anxious when my post won’t bring me a feedback?
-Every change I make I direct the mirror to take a picture of myself and then I immediately post?
-I make an image on the internet that does not match my reality?
-I envy and/or angry when other people are in greater evidence than what me on the internet?
-I often compare myself with other people and assume a position of competition in social networks?
If the answer to most of the above questions is “Yes”, you might need to discuss this with a counselor.