Technology & Innovation — January 4, 2011

Facebook Is Narcissistic

By allowing users to create and polish their personal brand, Facebook has become the magic mirror of our narcissistic and self-publicising era, says Philippe Rivière.

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The Facebook experience gives users the impression of being on stage, performing in front of 130 people (the average number of “friends”), who applaud their every gesture and witticism. The more faithfully the electronic mirror reflects our personality—or how we would like to think of ourselves—the more we become intoxicated with our reflection. This encourages users to feed their Facebook page, sometimes compulsively, by posting information on their likes and dislikes, their address and their location in real time, using various geo-positioning techniques, or chronicling their love life.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

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