Most Invisible Radical Contribution Of Facebook To Society

There’s no debate. The contribution of Facebook to society is great. It influences. People also use it to influence others.

Many times though people don’t intend to influence. They just share stuff about themselves, their spouses and their families.

Yet, this influences too. It sets norms of thought and behavior. It’s here though where the most invisible radical contribution of Facebook to society hides: making narcissism “sharing.”

Narcissism As “Sharing”

Facebook’s roadmap launched social media. That roadmap has one word, “more.” It’s about getting more of the user – more time, data, content and activity. Making the social media platform addictive helps this.

By pulling people’s emotional triggers on the deepest, most primitive level, people can’t resist “sharing.” People seek emotional recognition. So “sharing” coaxes the inner narcissist to come out in full glory.

It’s not bragging or showing off. It’s sharing. That’s giving . . . giving oneself. Giving is good. “Sharing” becomes addictive.

The Rise Of Narcissism

Narcissism is on the rise. Young people show the greatest increase. They’ve grown up with social media. Yet, it’s too easy to blame young people and social media alone.

That’s because narcissism has existed long before social media. In fact, the term comes from the ancient Greeks.  Their myth about the hunter, Narcissus, has him dying because he could not tear himself away from his own reflection. Moreover, narcissism has been on the rise in young people since the 1970s, way before social media.

Social media coax the inner narcissist to come out by calling its behavior “sharing.”

The Narcissistic Contribution Of Facebook To Society

Of course, in its normal form self-love helps people get through hard times and trials. That’s confidence. Narcissism is its mutant form though. Thus, the contribution of Facebook to society is as a food source. It and other social media platforms feed the inner narcissist in people.

Narcissism has proxies too. It’s not just about the person. It can be anything that “reflects” her. These can be family, spouses and children. They can be things too such as homes, cars, trips and deeds.

In the end, Facebook and social media are like the atomic bomb. That bomb did not create war. It just took it to a more potent level. Likewise, social media did not create narcissism. It’s just giving the inner narcissist a nuclear option to free and express itself.