How Social Has Made Everyone Self-Obsessed - Literature review Example

Analysis of how social has made everyone self-obsessed Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, among others are the most common sites used to share photos and information. These social sites have bred a class of individuals who feel the constant urge to share with friends or the whole world what they are up to. This habit is common among teenagers, young adults and celebrities. They upload photos of foods they are eating, places they are, clothes they are wearing among other things. They concentrate on pleasing people who are interested in their lives, who are mostly strangers.

These individuals are motivated by the number of likes or retweets they will get when they post on the sites (Harris 2011). This provides them a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction. Some individuals go to extreme lengths to garner followers or friends who follow their actions faithfully. They may pull daredevil stunts such as riding bikes dangerously, eating unpleasant foods among others. Selfies have also become a common thing to share as celebrities such as Kim Kardashian hardly let a day pass by without posting a photo for her followers (Rach 2014).

On a daily basis, “she posts an average of five posts on all her platforms” (qtd. In Burchill 2015). This behavior is in relation to the quote by Andy Warhol, “In the future everybody would be world famous for fifteen minutes.” Social media has provided an opportunity to individuals who were not known to people to create their ideal world on the internet. By doing this, they gain new friends, followers and admirers who would have remained unknown to them (Rosen 2014). Some people have become famous on the social sites and even earn a living from it, yet others are known for a day and quickly forgotten.

What matters to them, however, is that they have the chance to be in the “limelight”. Kim Kardashian through her twitter account has managed to create more wealth for herself (Burchill 2015). She has been paid by various companies a lot of money for just a tweet mentioning their product. “Forbes estimated Kardashian West’s Earnings at $28 million. A year earlier that sum was $10million-her financial power is ballooning” qtd in (Burchill 2015). As a celebrity, “she’s managed to put her name on cheaper brands-QuickTrim weight loss, slimming DVDs and her own Kardashian Kollection clothing line” (qtd.

In Burchill 2015). Because of her status, whenever items attract huge sales when her brand is used on them. It can be attributed to the fact that people want to associate themselves with the products she endorses. Farida Kahlo through her quote “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best”, shows that individuals who initially laid low now have an opportunity to show themselves off to the world (Burchill 2015). The social sites hand them the opportunity to express themselves because maybe they are often misunderstood.

This may apply to the shy individuals who take the opportunity to welcome the world into their lives using the social media (Burchill 2015). Some people use the social media to brag to their friends and the world about what they have. An example is the Rich kids of Instagram, who post photos in exotic places, latest cars, shopping in expensive stores, going on vacation using private jet among others. This may lead to other people wanting to emulate their lives and brings a competition spirit where everyone will now want to show off what they have or the activities they do (Firestone 2012).

According to Burchill (2015), Kim Kardashian built her brand to a global mega brand mainly through utilizing public detail and present day marketing strategies. She posts what she thinks is best for her brand so as to ensure her reputation is maintained. “She also a gifted editor, filtering out the best parts of her life and creating a world class personal brand” (qtd. In Burchill 2015). Social media has its benefits, but it is important to set a limit on the details you share with people.

Privacy is important and being on social media does not mean that you to share every single detail about your life. References Bergland, C., 2014, Social Media’s Dual-Edged Sword: Narcissism vs. Self-Esteem Media? Psychology Today, June 12, 2013. Web. Accessed April 4, 2015. Burchill, J., 2015, How Kim Conquered The Entertainment World. Stylist, April 1, 2015 Firestone, L., 2012, Is Social Media to Blame for the Rise in Narcissism? Huffington Post, October 16, 2012. Web. Accessed April 4, 2015.

Harris, S., 2011, Facebook and Twitter are creating a vain generation of self-obsessed people with child-like need for feedback, warns top scientist. Mail Online, July 30, 2011. Web. Accessed April 4, 2015. Rach, J., 2014, Are social networks breeding a nation of self-obsessed women? Closer, April 22, 2014. Web. Accessed April 4, 2015. Rosen, L., 2014, Our Social Media Obsession: What is Driving People to Check In with Social Media? Psychology Today, July 17, 2014. Web. Accessed April 4, 2015.