Endless streams of perfect selfies, exotic getaways, and curated lifestyles dominate our feeds—but lurking beneath the filters is a troubling reality. Recent research reveals that social media isn’t just shaping conversations—it’s distorting our sense of self and feeding harmful delusions, especially among vulnerable users.
A study aptly named ‘I tweet, therefore I am’ uncovers a stark connection: the psychological disorders most linked to heavy social media use are rooted in delusional thinking. Disorders like narcissism, body dysmorphia, anorexia, and even erotomania flourish online, where validation is abundant and self-perceptions go unchecked.
Researchers Nancy Yang and Bernard Crespi from Simon Fraser University coined the “Delusion Amplification by Social Media” model. They argue that platforms like Instagram and TikTok intensify false beliefs, turning users into self-created, edited personas—far removed from reality. Without face-to-face interactions and real-world feedback, users get trapped in algorithm-driven cycles, reinforcing distorted worldviews.
For those with narcissistic traits, endless likes and followers inflate self-importance. People battling body dysmorphia fixate on imagined flaws, bombarded by unattainable beauty standards. Eating disorders also spike, as platforms encourage unhealthy comparisons.
Interestingly, the study notes that individuals on the autism spectrum prefer content platforms like YouTube over social media’s validation-driven culture.
“Social media strips away reality checks,” Crespi warns, highlighting how these platforms exploit our craving for approval, often worsening mental health.
Behind every viral post, there may be someone spiraling deeper into delusion.
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