The Link Between Social Media & Narcissism in the Workplace & How To Combat It!

No matter what you may feel or think, it’s impossible to turn a blind eye to the prevalence of social media, especially in the workplace.

According to the latest 2023?Gitnux ?statistics,?77% of workers use social media at work, but most companies (45%) have no social media policies in place.?This may result in social comparisons leading to distraction and lower productivity.

That’s why this article seeks to explore the?link between social media and narcissism in the workplace, its?effect on employee relationships?and?perceptions, as well as?ways to deal with narcissism in the workplace.

What Narcissism Is! & How Social Media Contributes to it.

Although it is regarded as a “modern epidemic ”, the term "narcissism" originated more than 2,000 years ago with the?legend of Narcissus , a beautiful Greek hunter who falls in love with his own reflection and becomes fixated with it until he dies.

What It Is!

In essence, the psychological definition of narcissism is an?inflated, grandiose self-image.

A narcissist thinks they are more important than other people and deserve special treatment. According to the?literature, ?it is a cluster of behaviors that focuses on aggrandizing the self and putting others down.

It can be categorized into?4 different types :

-?Grandiose narcissists are?egotistical and arrogant seeking limelight and power

-?Covert?or?Vulnerable?always blame the world for not seeing their greatness

-?Communal?narcs?like to boast about the good work they do for the poor or society, while internally they lack empathy for the people they show help towards.

-?Malignant ones?are the criminals of society; they are narcs who can steal, lie, and cheat without caring about hurting others.

Social Media’s Contribution to Narcissism & Its Effect on Others

Although social media might be seen as an innocent connection tool, it’s the perfect playground for narcissists to flaunt their “fake personas."

According to?Dr. Ramani , the simple existence of such a tool has made it possible for narcissists to get validation from the whole world instead of just their close kin and connections. In a sense, it has revolutionized narcissistic supply. As opposed to previous generations, today’s narcs are more?pathologically attention-seeking?than before.

Social media ?has definitely increased the uptick in narcissism, and the phenomenon doesn’t seem to be going away. Though evidence does not show a causal relationship between social media and narcissism, different social media platforms were linked to different narcissistic types.

Mostly, grandiose narcissism ?was linked to the use of social media more than vulnerable narcissism. Narcs with high levels of “superiority” tended to use Twitter more than Facebook, while narcs with high “exhibitionism” preferred Facebook & Instagram.

How Social Media Makes Things Worse!

" By creating an environment where the number of likes & followers are a measure of success & popularity, social media fuels youths’ obsession to post for attention and validation.

This can lead to a sort of?addiction?— a cycle where young adults are constantly seeking and reliant on likes and followers in order to boost their self-esteem. Also, in an effort to maintain this online persona they’ve adopted, they can become obsessed and concerned with how they are perceived by others" — Angela Karanja , world-renowned psychologist and parenting adolescent expert at?Raising Remarkable Teenagers .

Recent?research ?on more than 2,000 young Americans has shown that those who spend more time online are more likely to suffer from?sadness, anxiety, and narcissism. They also report feeling more isolated and scrutinized by others.

• 30% of those aged 16 to 29 consider themselves narcissists.
• 31% had an anxiety diagnosis or treatment, & 29% underwent a depression treatment during that same time.
• 30 to 44-year-olds also report experiencing loneliness due to digital dependence. The 45+ year-olds, however, were exempt from that since they relied less on technology.

As a result, many experience FOMO (fear of missing out),?confusion, and a?lack of self-esteem. It is as if everyone is in a narcissistic, abusive relationship with social media.

The Link between Social Media, Narcissism & the Workplace

A 2022 study by?Huang, Xinyao, and Peng Fan ?has shown that the increased use of social media in the workplace fuels?upward social comparison?between employees.

According to?Natalie Maximets ,?a certified life transformation coach and author in psychology, the constant need for validation and comparison on social media can spill over into people’s professional and personal lives, leading to?decreased productivity, increased conflict, and damaged relationships.

“Narcissistic employees may be more focused on?promoting themselves and seeking attention,?rather than collaborating with their colleagues or contributing to the overall success of the team. This can create an unhealthy work environment and may lead to?conflicts and decreased productivity.” —?Bill McKenna ,?Founder at Cognomovement

The Narcissistic Pattern of Abuse

Regardless of whether you’re dealing with a grandiose or a covert narcissist, their?pattern of abuse ?follows the same cycle of?idealization, devaluation, and discard.

The pattern is depicted below:

In the discard phase, the narcissist typically launches a smear campaign.

Here,?social media?can also act as an amplifying platform for that smear campaign, whereby the narcissist can use it to?terrorize the victim ?through?triangulation, infiltration, stalking, and harassment, as well as?bullying.

Its Negative Effects on the Workplace

Narcissism has destructive effects on company culture, for it pushes valuable employees out the door.

In brief, its?effects ?can be summed up as follows:

• It disrupts team unity and hampers collaboration

Viewing themselves as superior, narcs will always want to be the center of attention. They will prevent collaboration by creating an atmosphere of self-doubt and confusion. This becomes especially apparent when team members disagree with their suggestions.

• It leads to a toxic workplace which hinders productivity and engagement

Narcissists may also pit team members against each other by spreading lies to benefit their own agenda. They end up causing a lot of conflict, stress, and burnout.?In the end, the fear culture they spread paralyzes good intentions and hampers productivity.

How to Deal with Social Media & Narcissism in The Workplace

When it comes to social media and narcissism, it’s best to address the problems before performance dwindles and team culture becomes toxic.

Strategies to Reduce the Negative Effects of Social media on Employees’ Performance

Since social media by default emphasizes individual accolades over team success, employers should strive to redefine team success, and reward collaboration.

“Managers can set a culture that overshadows social media by making the culture one of kindness, teamwork, compassion, and selflessness. This can be done with posters, videos, meetings, and group retreats.”?—?Baruch Labunski , CEO at?Rank Secure

“They should set clear expectations and boundaries around social media usage. This can include establishing guidelines for appropriate behavior on social media, as well as providing training and resources to help employees understand the potential risks and consequences of oversharing or seeking too much attention online.”—?Bill McKenna ,?Founder at Cognomovement

“As for employees, they should also strive to: 1. Limit their social media usage at work 2. Be mindful of comparison 3. Prioritizing face-to-face interaction 4. Seek professional help if they are struggling” _Natalie Maximets , Certified Transformation & life coach

Eliminating Narcissistic Behavior in the Workplace

To effectively deal with narcissistic behavior among employees, employers should:

• Take Note of the Behavior Consistently:?To be able to hold narcs accountable, it’s important to have?regular records of behavior? and performance to prevent them from manipulating organizational policies.
• Establish Clear Expectations & Healthy Boundaries:
• Since narcs are adept at manipulating and moving goalposts to their liking, it’s important to set clear expectations and agree to them with all stakeholders. Once established, managers should stand firm on what behaviors they tolerate.
• Reassign problematic employees within the company:
• Before taking disciplinary action regarding termination managers may opt to make a quick fix by relocating the narc to another role within the company while addressing the underlying issue.

If the issue persists, however, Harvey Deutschendorf, a Canadian-based emotional intelligence expert, advises management to set?specific, measurable, and timely change goals?for the narc.

The Takeaway

The rise of social media has amplified existing narcissistic tendencies in the workplace.

To combat this, it is important for employers and managers to understand the connection between social media and narcissism and take the necessary measures to mitigate its negative effects. By doing so, they can create a positive work environment that fosters collaboration, mutual respect, and effective problem-solving.

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