Narcissism and Social Networking Behavior: A Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveThe increasing popularity of social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook and Twitter has given rise to speculations that the intensity of using these platforms is associated with narcissistic tendencies. However, recent research on this issue has been all but conclusive. MethodWe present a three-level, random effects meta-analysis including 289 effect sizes from 57 studies (total N=25,631) on the association between trait narcissism and social networking behavior. ResultsThe meta-analysis identified a small to moderate effect of =.17 (=.11), 95% CI [.13, .21], for grandiose narcissism that replicated across different social networking platforms, respondent characteristics, and time. Moderator analyses revealed pronounced cultural differences, with stronger associations in power-distant cultures. Moreover, social networking behaviors geared toward self-presentation and the number of SNS friends exhibited stronger effects than usage durations. ConclusionsOverall, the study not only supported but also refined the notion of a relationship between engaging in social networking sites and narcissistic personality traits.