Narcissists always give themselves away — with this one bad habit that's tough to hide
Looking to weed out the narcissists in your life? Researchers say there's one, hard-to-hide habit the unpalatable personality type finds impossible to break.
The way they engage with their smartphones can tell you everything you need to know, new findings reveal — those with narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to exhibit problematic patterns of scrolling, posting, and liking social media posts.
4 A narcissist a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
Galina_lya – stock.adobe.com
The data, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, shows that a person's social media behavior could be an indicator that someone is a bit too into themselves.
Social media addiction goes beyond heavy usage. It includes behaviors like compulsively checking for updates, being unable to cut back despite negative consequences, and relying on online interactions for emotional satisfaction.
These behaviors can lead to problems in real life — including sleep problems, reduced face-to-face interaction, and poor job or academic performance.
The team worked to explore not just whether narcissism and addiction are linked, but how they might influence each other over time.
4 A new study found that those with narcissistic tendencies are significantly more likely to exhibit problematic patterns of scrolling, posting, and liking social media posts.
motortion – stock.adobe.com
To begin, they identified six forms of narcissism: admiration, rivalry, enmity, isolation, heroism, and sanctity.
The study sample was comprised of 339 adults aged 19 to 41, living in Poland. They all completed multiple assessments, answered questions about their social media use, and filled out established measures of narcissism and social networking addiction focused on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
The results showed that individuals who scored high in nearly every form of narcissism — except sanctity— also reported higher levels of social media addiction.
4 The team discovered that individuals who scored high in nearly every form of narcissism — except sanctity— also reported higher levels of social media addiction.
Valerii Honcharuk – stock.adobe.com
However, the dynamic between the two varied depending on the type of narcissism.
Those with heroism, admiration, and rivalry had what researchers called a 'reciprocal' relationship with addiction.
When one went up, the other tended to go down over time, suggesting a push-pull dynamic where users may alternate between bursts of ego-driven behavior and periods of compulsive social media use. This hints at an internal struggle between seeking admiration and dealing with the consequences of addiction.
4 Social media addiction has been found to led to behaviors that can lead to problems IRL, including sleep problems, reduced face-to-face interaction, and poor job or academic performance.
9nong – stock.adobe.com
In contrast, enmity (a hostile, antagonistic form of narcissism) and isolation (withdrawn and cold) tracked in sync with social media addiction. When usage spiked, so did these darker narcissistic traits — and vice versa.
That suggests these traits may actually worsen the addiction or feed off it in a continuous loop.
So, what does this mean for the average user?
If someone is constantly glued to their phone, obsessing over likes and followers, they might not just be addicted to their feed — they could also be revealing something about their personality.
And if their behavior seems driven by a need for admiration or marked by antagonism, you might be looking at a narcissistic pattern.
Of course, the researchers caution that their study was based entirely on self-report data, which means some findings could be influenced by how honestly participants assessed their own behaviors and traits.
Still, the study opens a fascinating window into how our online habits mirror our inner worlds.
So next time you find yourself — or someone else — unable to stop refreshing that Instagram feed, it might be worth asking: Is this just a bad habit — or a sign of something worse?
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Buzz Feed
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37 Infuriating People Who Don't Think They're A Problem
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Vox
2 hours ago
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Most couples used to meet this way. What happened?
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Removing friends and family from the romantic equation has some downsides, Sharabi says. In a study, Sharabi found that couples who met online reported slightly less satisfying and stable marriages than those who met offline. This can be attributed to lingering stigma around app-faciliated connections and family members who may judge a partner from outside their circles more harshly. 'Now you've got friends and family that are really disconnected from the process as well. They're not always supportive of the relationship,' Sharabi says. 'You're out there meeting strangers who they may or may not approve of because they just don't know them.' The new dating experience The setup may also not mesh with modern dating's array of expectations. The amount of information app users have access to prior to a date — an assortment of photos, interests, career, even weeks' worth of conversation — far exceeds the brief bit of background a friend may offer before setting you up. Another expectation of digital courtship — that the 'perfect' person is just a swipe away — can further dilute the allure of a setup. If the date you met online fails to meet your standards, hope springs eternal that the next profile will check all your boxes. With seemingly endless options, singles might discount someone simply because they don't have the right look or the right job. The nature of the setup is virtually the opposite: Here's one person you might jive with. If you aren't satisfied, it might be awkward with your mutual friend — and you'll be sent straight back to the dating apps. 'I feel like my friends have been single for so long,' says Maxine Simone Williams, the founder of the speed dating event series We Met IRL, 'they have a laundry list of what they want, which makes it even harder to set them up, because it's like, well, you don't want this.' On rare occasions, Williams has seen some event attendees walk in, survey the room, and leave. 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Newsweek
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A surprise commuter on a New York City subway has captured the internet's heart after hopping aboard like she had somewhere to be. New Yorker @pocahontae8 shared a now-viral TikTok video showing a tiny gray tabby kitten casually jumping onto the train. The video has since garnered 1.2 million likes and 8 million views. "Y'all a kitten just hopped on the train like she was headed to work. Only in NYC," reads the text overlay on the clip. The footage shows the kitten joining morning commuters, clearly unfazed by the hustle of the city. One passenger scoops up the confused feline, seemingly unsure what to do next. Another eventually takes her off the train, likely to help find her a home or reunite her with an owner. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it's important to approach carefully. You should check if the cat is truly stray or simply lost, according to PetMD. Look for signs of ownership like a collar or friendliness. Bringing the cat to a vet to scan for a microchip is the best next step. If there's no ID, consider contacting a local shelter or rescue group—or, if you're able, providing temporary foster care. TikTok users were quick to share their reactions to the unexpected moment. "You don't understand how bad I just panicked cuz I thought the kitten will fall through the crack," said Moneka. "Great they kidnapped the kitten while it was on its way to a job interview," joked Mahir. A stock image showing a subway train. A stock image showing a subway train. tifonimages/iStock / Getty Images Plus "Kitten was like 'excuse me I'm part of the distribution system and I was told my person would be here,'" another user commented. "I'm so glad that woman took her!!" said Amber. "THANK YOU TO THE GIRL WHO TOOK THE KITTEN! May she bring you joy for the rest of her life! I hope you keep her!" wrote Lula. "I'd of taken that baby immediately no hesitation," said Abigail. "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put this to the song 9-5," added Mia, referencing the classic Dolly Parton hit. "I have never seen the cat distribution system deliver on the train," another user added. A stock image showing a kitten walking. A stock image showing a kitten walking. Valentin Zlydennyy/iStock / Getty Images Plus "Kitten is just trying to apply for bodega jobs," quipped another user. "God bless that girl who took that precious kitten," added Anne. Newsweek reached out to @pocahontae8 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
