Kowalczyk 1 Samantha Kowalczyk Mr.

Newman English 101: Rhetoric 18 November 2013 Narcissism Is Not the Result This is it. Our current way of life depends on and turns to the usage of social media sites. These social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter play such a dramatic role that students, teachers, children, parents and many others have been drawn to its usage. Although we are constantly using these sites, it doesnt mean it changes who we are. Many claim these media sites change us into narcissistic online users. The question is, how can an inanimate object change who we are? The bottom line is, we ultimately decide who we are and choose the way we act. These sites are used for many positive purposes while the main view of critics focuses on all the negatives. Although being a part social media sites have become a general action of our generation today, we are openly engaged in others lives rather than the interest of only our own leaving the act of narcissism out of the question. Communicating used to consist of actual face to face interaction; this is the main way it was done. Overtime it has changed and went down the line of face to face interactions to pagers, phone calls, and now through texting and social media sites. Our society is said to be one that does not know how to communicate. This is not the case; we know how to communicate just through a different way. Bruce McKinney, a communication studies professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, strongly supports this different way a s the new norm. This new alternative explains that in a way, Tweets and texts seem to be replacing actual eye contact and the more audible and direct hello (McKinney). Narcissism cannot be the result of social

Kowalczyk 2 media sites if it is the common way of life. We are still focusing on others rather than just ourselves, it is just done through a different process of communication. McKinney feels that, Twitter, like Facebook, has become part of the national psyche. It is just what we do, almost what we have been trained to do. Much advancement has come from social media sites, the range and ability of communicating being included. The new way of communicating through social media sites helps and encourages us to be engaged in others profiles. With the new constant usage on social media sites, we do take full advantage of posting our own business but we are also persistently checking others profiles, tweets, pictures or postings in general. By doing so, we are fully engaged in what is going on in others lives. This is the complete opposite of what narcissistic users are defined as. Keith Hampton, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers, confirms this. Accounted to be true, Hampton states, Narcissists are by definition self-centered and disengaged. This fully supports that social media sites are not turning us into users acting on narcissism. Not only by being on a social media site are we engaged in what others are posting about their lives, but also their views on government, politics, and other ideas regarding our country by the postings theyve submitted. Those who engage in online media sites are more likely to be, involved in civic and political activities than Americans with similar backgrounds (Hampton). Again, these are the reverse actions of a narcissist. By being engaged, we are more aware of what is going on in the world around us whether it is on a local, state or national level. Not only does being engaged in online media sites show opposite actions of narcissists, but also allows us to find and express our creativity. It is said that we use social media sites for all the wrong reasons; we are said to be always looking for attention and having the focus on ourselves. Majority of people do not use media

Kowalczyk 3 sites for these purposes but to update others, including family and friends, through blogging or posting pictures. These postings help us express creativity of ourselves and our lives. Jeff Bullas, an author, blogger and strategist who works to optimize companies online presences, expresses his certainty and confidence in social media sites being a source to express creativity. Bullas says, We are seeing the democratization of publishing that allows us to express our ideas, insights and
creativity for free These platforms allow freedom of expression for anyone who has the time,

passion and persistence. These sites allow us to post anything we want expressing how we feel as well
as how others feel. Rather than only being concerned with our own postings we are intrigued in

others postings including celebrities such as authors or music artists. Some will like and agree with what is posted or disagree and not like it; this situation results in a reaction from the audience. This allows room for constructive criticism on the works of others who try to gain public attention. According to Bullas, while others read our postings it, challenges us to grow and learn from an observant and sometimes critical global audience that has similar interests and pursuits. From the constructive criticism we are then pushed to reach passed our creativity point and reach for more. Creativity is just one of many positives coming from social media sites. Bullas also confidently states, This social media feedback and attention seeking is not leading to an explosion of narcissism. It is ushering in a new age of human creativity. Not only are social media sites establishing a new ground of human creativity resulting in constructive criticism, but also ways to prevent the start of narcissist actions. Although there is clear evidence of social media sites acting as a positive transformation for our society, there are still critics who will disagree, Chris Poole, the founder of a decade old anonymous online community, being one of them. Relating to the criticisms of postings that Bullas explained, Poole feels users are worried about who the comment they have received is

Kowalczyk 4 from. This anxious emotion felt by the user results in acts of narcissism which is when ...we hunger for the attention and applause of others (Poole). We crave the need to find out which one of our friends, family, or other user has posted on our site. A solution to fix this crave is anonymous posting. Anonymous postings without a doubt prevent narcissistic acts because the comment or criticism takes away your identity and expressing yourself online as a stranger (Poole). When taking away someones identity, the user receives the comment without the immediate need to know which friend has commented knowing its an anonymous post. What results from this is a unique sense of community and an outlet that embraces and encourages freedom of thought (Poole). Not only does this prevents acts of narcissism, but again allows the freedom and creativity of thought of what a user would be thinking. Therefore, anonymous posting does not allow nor include acts of narcissism but prevents them. Multiple positives come from social media sites. Narcissists do not result from creativity, being engaged, and our societys new way of communicating; they result from the complete opposite actions actually. People need to realize that those on social media sites, such as myself, use the sites for good uses rather than the negatives that critics focus on. Just because our generation is evolving into using newer and different tactics in technology than older generations, does not mean we are turning into narcissists; this is just the new way of life. Life in technology is going to continue to change in a positive direction, even more than what is has with social media sites.

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Works Cited Bullas, Jeff. "Everyone Has a Voice, Everyone Is Judged." Room for Debate. New York Times, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Hampton, Keith. "Young, Wild and Friended." Room for Debate. New York Times, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. McKinney, Bruce. "The New Normal." Room for Debate. New York Times, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Poole, Chris. "Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game." Room for Debate. New York Times, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.