Social media and mental health

Social media and mental health

Poll

Do you post pictures?

• YES

• NO

Poll

Which images or photos do you post?

• Selfies

• Photos with friends

• Memes

• My food

• Love quotes

"The selfie effect"

Using social media too much and posting many selfies have caused a rise in narcissism, according to a new study. Narcissism is when someone becomes very selfish and believes they are very talented and beautiful. They need attention from other people and think they are better than everyone else. Researchers at universities in Swansea and Milan found that heavy users of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter showed a 25 per cent rise in narcissism in just four months. The researchers studied how 74 people aged 18 to 34 used social media and looked at how their personality changed. They said that posting selfies seemed to increase levels of narcissism in a way that text messaging does not.

"The selfie effect"

Professor Phil Reed, from the Department of Psychology at Swansea University, said: "There have been suggestions of links between narcissism and the use of [selfies] on social media, such as Facebook, but until this study, it was not known if...using such platforms is associated with the...growth in narcissism. The results of this study suggest that...posting selfies can increase narcissism." Professor Read said that "about 20 per cent of people may be at risk of developing" narcissism. This is because they want attention and likes from other people after they post a selfie. They also want to show others how their life is better or how they are more beautiful or attractive.

Open Ended

What was not known until this study came out?

Multiple Choice

Using social media too much and posting many selfies have caused ______ narcissism

• a rise in

• a raisin

• a risen

• an increase

Multiple Select

What can posting too many selfies lead to?

• Blisters

• Stress

• Narcissism

Multiple Choice

Who do narcissists need attention from?

• Other people

• Themselves

• Best friends

• Strangers

• Everyone

Multiple Select

What two things do people want after they post a selfie?

• likes and attention

• sleep and food

• posts and attention

• sleep and likes

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Poll

Do you ever compare yourself to the people you see on Instagram?

• Yes

• No

• I try not to do it