Social narcissism is characterized by an inflated self-image and a need for admiration in social settings, often leading to manipulative or self-promoting behaviour to maintain social status. 

Social networks are like crack to social narcissists. Recognise any of these behaviours in yourself or others?

• Increased validation seeking: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook constantly reinforce narcissistic tendencies through the constant seeking of approval through likes and comments. Please like me so that I can like myself.

• Enhanced self-promotion: Easy sharing of achievements and curated lifestyles can lead to competitive self-presentation, especially among younger people. I need to keep up with everyone else at any cost. 

• Social isolation: Despite increased connectivity, the superficial interactions on social media can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, potentially exacerbating narcissistic behaviours as individuals seek more attention online. I feel lonely and the only way to feel better is to do the thing that makes me lonely.

This is happening at a generational scale. The full impact is yet to be felt but, personal opinion, there is a generational timebomb that is primed to explode if we don't start to openly talk about the effects of social networks on generations who have grown up not knowing any differently, and with unethical companies who don't care to do anything about it, and with governments who are too clueless or scared to do anything about it.

There is major harm being caused by the social networks, pandemic levels of social narcissism is merely one of many changes to society. There are many more, and this is all before we get into the AI changes.

When you introduce new technology stuff happens. We used to do it with care and consideration, now we let anything happen with any consequence.

We haven't cleared up the social networks mess and yet now we're eager to commercialise the immature AI proposition? We have learned nothing and are so desperate for money that we are sacrificing everything to get there. It's ugly and really stupid, very hard to sit by and just watch happen.

My 15yo daughter hides family photos at home when her friends come over because she doesn't want her friends to take pictures of her looking 'daggy'. It's so sad to me that our kids are more concerned with image and reputation, i.e. optics, than they are ANYTHING else.

What this is all leading to is social masking - changing yourself for other people, spending time and energy to curate optics, living a fake life....which is exhausting to maintain, stressful and anxiety causing, and happening at scale.

This stuff is horrific, deeply unhealthy, unsustainable and yet we just look the other way or think of the money. I feel absolutely powerless to stop it.