Social media didn’t invent the human need for attention, validation, or admiration. Those impulses have existed for centuries — in politics, art, religion, and everyday life. What platforms did was remove the gatekeepers. Now anyone can broadcast their image, opinions, achievements, and grievances instantly to an audience.
The algorithm didn’t create ego — it amplified visibility. It didn’t manufacture self-obsession — it rewarded what already attracts attention. Social media acts less like a creator and more like a mirror. If narcissism appears more common today, it may not be because there is more of it — but because it is finally measurable, trackable, and constantly displayed. In that sense, the platform is not the disease. It’s the X-ray.