Food for thought!!

According to an article by a phd candidate.. The reasons of the rise of narcissism(labelled as a modern epedemic by some)

The rise in technology and the development of hugely popular social networking sites,, further changed the way we spend our free time and communicate. Internet addiction is a new area of study in mental health and recent cross-sectional research shows that addiction to Social media,is strongly linked to narcissistic behaviour and low self-esteem.
As the social fabric deteriorated, it became much harder to meet the basic need for meaningful connection. The question moved from what is best for other people and the family to what is best for me. The modernisation of society seemed to prize fame, wealth, celebrity above all else. All this, combined with the breakdown in social ties created an "empty self, shorn of social meaning".
So what can we do about all this and how can we lead a happy and purposeful life? One of the largest studies on happiness was conducted by a group of Harvard researchers who followed a large cohort of people over a period of 75 years. What they discovered - unsurprisingly - was that fame and money were not the secrets to happiness. Rather, the most important thing in life and the greatest predictor of satisfaction was having strong and supportive relationships - essentially, that "the journey from immaturity to maturity is a sort of movement from narcissism to connection".

A question to self- are we spending too much time on the internet??
May be its time to turn off our computer and phones, meet up with a friend or spend some quality time with our families !!

While I agree that narcissism, low self-esteem, empty relationships, false idea of happiness/self-worth, and other vices are on the rise - I shall not blame the internet.

Originally posted by: Angel-likeDevil

While I agree that narcissism, low self-esteem, empty relationships, false idea of happiness/self-worth, and other vices are on the rise - I shall not blame the internet.

Such things were lacking in human originally and they just found an outlet or expression through the medium called 'internet' and, social networking to be more specific.

I feel, no matter how you use internet, it ultimately depends on you and your understanding of - how much you know about yourself, your own self-awareness, your clarity on a range of things - on what 'self-worth' is, what relationships are, what relationships need, what you need and ultimately, what makes for 'quality of life'..

To hanker for likes, the desire to pry on others' lives and make comparisons seeing their seemingly happy lives reflecting in their happy photo uploads, and then feel let down, desire to show off what food you ate at such and such restaurant -- is reflecting on self - internet is not encouraging you to become that way -- but it was your own self or the faults in self that surfaced through the medium of internet.

I feel, people should observe themselves, make sense of what goes through within them, analyse their inner self, go to the roots of the false ideas of everything and come out of it - for their own sake... Afterall, everything in life is about how you grow, how you move forward... everyone has faults, it is all about how self-aware, honest(to self), and how you arise and improve as a person... no need to answer to anyone.

As for relationships, I think it again goes back to self. Afterall, it is the relationship you have with your own self that ultimately reflects in the relationships you have with people around you. So, what is it you want from someone, how do you want your relation(friend/lover/family) to be, what is the 'quality' of relationship you want with people in your life..

The quality of interpersonal skills on a face-to-face level is unmatched by anything, personally. To see the nuances of expressions on a person's face while talking to them, to just watch them breathe and share the same space with them can NEVER be replaced by anything for me. A lot of things happen when two people share same space AND time, that cannot be found on text messages or video calls.

And I don't like it when people have their noses in phones when we hangout, it takes away the quality of time you are spending together - they will definitely be in another world, and not be *there* with you, although physically they are.

And, lastly, is it just me or has anyone seen how people are unable to hold lively conversations? Social media has given people time to think, draft an answer in reply when they have "virtual conversations", so, this has taken away their ability at spontaneously holding conversations in person. A spontaneity is missing for sure. I'm not saying EVERYONE has become like that, but surely, most people have become like that. Sometimes, my friends themselves look clueless... it is really a very sad state of affairs.

And IDK how far it's true, but I feel people these days take everything at face value just like how they think everything that appears to be on social media is real.. and have false ego boosts by throwing around their self-righteous morally superior comments on everything under the sun.

I have much to say on this, but I guess I'll stop.

I completely agree with you it's all about self awareness ,accepting and then working on it..social media plays a part where narcissist people can feel wanted and above everyone else and thats what they live off because of it there is no self realization,one of the traits of narcissist people are they are socially correct and have many friends and the fact that it is a mental problem self realization is close to impossible ..So like i said it plays a big part in the modern world but of course is not the only reason.