Are you a Facebook Narcissist?

We hear the lectures all the time in class to keep our Facebook's clean and professional for when employers check them. But have you considered what message you might be sending without even realizing it? While social media has completely reshaped how we connect with those around us in positive ways, it has also come with its pitfalls. Including the rise of Facebook narcissism.

Facebook is a magnet for narcissists everywhere. It not only attracts them, but can also turn people into one without even realizing it. The following are a few signs that your Facebook may be giving of a narcissist vibe.

1) There's only one person in your profile picture, that being YOU, for the majority of your profile pictures. Don't fret if your profile pic is of just you at the moment. Narcissists typically take great care with this forefront of their page. The pictures will most likely be filtered to hide unsightly features or add a tan. Poses will be made to highlight the best attributes of the narcissist, sometimes in a seductive way.

2) In the words of a song that I am not quite fond of, the narcissist lives by the "but first let me take a selfie" mantra. Narcissists love to update their selfie collection daily. They may have upwards of 2 or more selfie pictures a day. Captions on these pictures usually relate back directly to the person, how they changed their hair, their feelings on the day's events, or even compliment fishing for an extra boost of attention.

3) Having over 1,000 "friends" is another sign of Facebook narcissism. Which is actually slightly terrifying to me considering over a 1,000 people have access to your information. Narcissists love to put on a show that they have a huge network of loyal followers. They will accept almost any friend request as well as send them. Their Facebook may even have lax privacy settings to make their profile more visible to people who aren't even friends.

4) The narcissist will brag about their life in one post and put it down in another. The first tactic meant to put on a show, the second to get people to respond. If reading through status updates on a narcissist's profile, one might be confused as to whether the person is bipolar based on the wide array of positive and negative posts. 

The worst part about the Facebook narcissist epidemic you ask? Most narcissists are not even aware of their actions. The culture of social media and sharing can cultivate this mindset by accident. If you meet these criteria, you are not alone. Those aware of their problem can then work to actively prevent it from occurring again.