Social addiction: an interesting study looked at the most popular of these, Facebook

Social addiction: the study conducted on Facebook

With more than 2.4 billion members and over 1.59 billion daily users, Facebook is currently the largest social networking site in existence.

Many people are involved in social interactions on Facebook on a daily basis, posting updates about their lives and commenting on the updates of other community members.

Online exchange helps to develop feelings of connection, belonging and social support.

Receiving positive comments and ‘likes’ on posts increases feelings of popularity – an important reason why people with high levels of narcissistic personality traits often tend to use Facebook intensively.

Are people with narcissistic personality traits more at risk of developing a Facebook addiction? And what are the mechanisms involved in this relationship?

Facebook, the research

The main objective of a study by German researchers was to understand the mechanisms that link narcissistic personality traits and social addiction.

In particular, the researchers focused on the experience of ‘flow’, i.e. the state of enjoyment brought about by using Facebook.

In this state, people are so engrossed in Facebook that nothing else matters and the experience is so pleasurable that they would continue to engage in it even at great cost.

Materials and methods of the study on social and Facebook addiction

The sample consisted of 449 Facebook users.

Narcissistic personality traits, experience of ‘flow’, intensity of Facebook use and Facebook addiction were assessed by means of an online survey.

Study on Facebook addiction: results

The results of the research showed that narcissistic personality traits were positively correlated with social and Facebook addiction.

Furthermore, there was a positive link between narcissism and the experience of ‘flow’ and between this and Facebook addiction.

Facebook flow mediated between narcissism and social addiction.

On Facebook, people with narcissistic personality traits have the opportunity to realise their need for self-promotion in front of a large audience.

As a result, they are likely to get much more attention and admiration online than in the offline world, and thus derive more enjoyment and satisfaction from it.

These feelings correspond to the experience of ‘flow’. The more users with narcissistic personality traits perceive admiration on Facebook, the deeper they become into the online world.

Furthermore, the results indicate that the greater the use of Facebook, the stronger the ‘flow’ experience that contributes to Facebook addiction.

Conclusions

Excessive use of social networks can cause psychological dependency.

Those with narcissistic personality traits are at greater risk for this form of addiction, which is facilitated by the ‘flow’ experience during Facebook use and the intensity of social use.

The present findings should be taken into account when assessing people at risk for pathological social use and when planning specific interventions to address this addiction.

References

Brailovskaia, BierhoffH., Rohmann E.. , Raeder F., Margraf J. (2020) The relationship between narcissism, intensity of Facebook use, Facebook flow and Facebook addiction. Addictive behaviours reports.

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Source:

Istituto Beck