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Angelica Arriaga Mr. Newman English 101: Rhetoric 25 October 2013 Narcissism Isnt the Problem It is only natural that we question the motives and actions of our generation as technology advances faster than at any pace in human history. With that being said, there is also a question on whether or not we are benefiting from our new exposures to technology especially when social networking sites are said to be creating narcissist people. Instead, these network sites already expose the narcissism that is embedded in our human nature; the problem isnt social network sites, its us. The web helps us unleash our true selves to a public that enables us to boast our self-expression and self-esteem. On one hand, social networking sites are supposed to be social so people can benefit from expressing any self-reflection one may have on the inside. On the other hand, some say that social network sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter are making us become self-centered. Although social networking are said to make people become more narcissistic, the true nature of these sites are too help us showcase our identities and connect with others. One might disregard the idea that social media is not the blame for narcissistic behavior. However, Sara Konrath, an assistant professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, claims that her research "has found that narcissism has been increasing over the past 30 years in American Culture," and that it is "easy to blame social media for such changes". What Konrath proves is that people have always been self-absorbed in their own activities; its just convenient that websites like Twitter or Facebook were created in order

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to influence the productivity of updating ones life on the web. So to say that social media is the blame for such behavior is not accurate since narcissism has always existed. Even a "2010 analysis of generational differences in narcissism" by Brent Roberts, Grants Edmonds and Emily Grijalva claim that every generation is Generation Me, as every generation of younger people are more narcissistic than their elders(qtd. in Hampton). Social media is not at fault for making society more narcissistic, but it does empower a person to build their own self-image and have control on how much is said. Networking sites provide a simple way for a person to edit, delete, and freely express themselves on a profile that incorporates the "me" factor. This amount of control is a reason why networking sites are popular among users and open new doors of self-expression. Not only can people have room to speak their own voice, but also become stronger people in handling praise as well as criticism. Jeff Bullas, a speaker who works with companies to optimize their online presence, sees the web as a way to express out ideas, insights and creativity for free These platforms allow freedom of expression for anyone who has the time passion and presence. Because networking sites are popular, that also means that there are many different type of people on the web, and "just as every new technology affords opportunity for abuse, it can also be utilized by healthy individuals for more positive purposes" states Eleanor Payson, a psychotherapist. Yet, this causes a problem when people cannot differentiate narcissism from "a healthy degree of sharing" with what "is merely a compulsive pursuit for attention" (Payson). People can either choose to be humble or express themselves to their own audience. However, the dark side of social networking sites is how people assert the claim that these sites have made generations more narcissistic.

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If narcissism means "self-absorbed", then the idea that networking sites are making us more narcissistic would be true. However, "the suggestion that social media use is inherently narcissistic ignores how most people use technology", this is a statement made by Keith Hampton, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers. People can choose to use technology as a positive addition to our generation or cause unwanted attention. That all depends on the individual, besides, actual narcissism is a personality disorder that "is a true pathology that originates in deep and early childhood wounding" (Payson), not something people pick up by the time they make an account on Facebook. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, states that social media enables a narcissist to amplify ones own perceived superiority to others. In her argument, she addresses the reason that the generation is becoming more narcissist is because narcissism clearly leads to more social media use. Her argument is directed towards people who are self-centered on social sites and not the actual narcissistic personality disorder. In the end, social networking sites are a great venue for narcissists, but they dont turn people into one. A little more than a decade ago, the use of the web, email, and the introduction of text messaging were still advancing and becoming more popular during that era. No one of that time would have foreseen the impact that technology would have in creating programs such as apps, touch screen phones, and social websites. The biggest impact that technology had on society was changing the way the world communicated with one another. Bruce Mckinney, a communication studies professor at the university of North Carolina Wilmington, declares that "Electronic communication will continue to produce significant changes in the way we communicate." Now, people are texting, writing blogs, emailing, tweeting and using Facebook to its fullest potential. This way the world communicates is changing constantly, sooner or later "Facebook

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will probably pass as well as Twitter, though I cringe to think what will replace them."(McKinney) What is certain is that technology allows easier communication with one another, and will continue to improve in the near future. People have been saying that social media is making us more narcissistic, but I wouldnt entirely agree with them. It is possible that the media is making us worse from people posting pictures of their food and the compulsion to take pictures of their outfits, but social media isnt all bad. These networking sites have provided the world with new methods of interacting with one other. Social networking sites are simply a way to interact and express individuality through a simple post or tweet, and they certainly do not cause narcissism.

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Works Cited Bullas, Jeff. "Everyone Has a Voice, Everyone Is Judged." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-andnarcissism/on-the-social-web-everyone-has-a-voice-everyone-is-judged>. Hampton, Keith. "Young, Wild and Friended." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-andnarcissism/facebook-is-the-perfect-platform-for-self-involved-youth-culture>. Konrath, Sara. "Empathy on the Decline." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-and-narcissism/isdeclining-empathy-technologys-fault>. McKinney, Bruce. "The New Normal." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-and-narcissism/frequentsocial-media-use-is-the-new-normal>. Payson, Eleanor. "The Perfect Stage." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-andnarcissism/facebook-provides-the-perfect-stage-for-narcissists>. Twenge, Jean. "It's a Narcissism Enabler." The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/23/facebook-and-narcissism/socialmedia-is-a-narcissism-enabler>.