Narcissists like fellow narcissists on Instagram, according to new research.
People who show attention-seeking behaviour on the platform, such as taking selfies, are more likely to be narcissists, a study found.
Those who post selfies to Instagram are more likely to follow ‘arrogant’ and ‘attention-seeking’ users, the research found, meaning narcissists are drawn to other narcissists on the platform.
Narcissists like fellow narcissists on Instagram, according to new research. People who show attention-seeking behaviour on the platform, such as those who take selfies, are more likely to be narcissistic, a study found (stock image)
The researchers, from Sejung University in Seoul, South Korea, focussed on so-called ‘grandiose narcissism’, which is linked to self-admiration and a higher self-esteem.
They studied 276 adult Instagram users, asking participants how much they agreed with statements such as ‘I really like to be the centre of attention,’ and ‘I like to look at my body.’
Instagram users who posted lots of selfies showed higher narcissism scores.
Participants were then asked to assess the perceived narcissism of other Instagram users.
They were asked how much they agreed with statements such as ‘she likes to show off her body’ and ‘she likes to be the centre of attention’.
They were also asked to rate Instagram users on traits like arrogance and self-confidence.
‘Whereas non-narcissists indicated more negative attitude towards selfies, lower intention to post selfies, and lower intention to follow the selfie-posting Instagram users than narcissists, narcissists indicated higher intention to follow the selfie-posting Instagram users,’ study lead author Dr Seunga Venus Jin told Broadly.
This is not the first time that research has linked Instagram users to narcissistic tendencies.
The research reveals that those who follow or like the Instagram posts of narcissists are also likely to be narcissists themselves (stock image)
A 2017 survey of almost 10,000 students found that the social media platform is more suited to the self-obsessed than Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook.
The survey found that 64 per cent of millennials believe Instagram is the most narcissistic social media platform.
In fact, Instagram received more votes as the most vain social media app than Facebook (10 per cent), Snapchat (15 per cent), and Twitter (11 per cent) combined.
Two thirds of millennials admitted to liking photos and videos from people who had previously liked their own posts.