The entire spectrum of social media sites have that one similarity—the “look at me” phenomenon. The exact idea of “following” someone provides individuals with that sense of validation necessary to show that the public is paying attention to them. The way in which we engage in social media proves that we’re all a tad bit narcissistic. Let’s be honest— we post in attempt to gain some sort of self-promotion— not because what we’re doing is great, but because we look great doing it. Despite the resemblances, there are distinctions between the sites—Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr and Pinterest. Perhaps your most frequently visited account indicates characteristics of your persona far more profound than a mere status update or 140-character tweet. Advanced technology in the 21st century has made navigation to our most favored sites easy—all it takes is a quick download from the app store, and a single tap on your handy smartphone.
Facebook: The Logistician
Clearly, you think you’re Aristotle. You aren’t one to act on impulse, or take risks. Whenever an event happens, whether it’s an exclusive or public matter, you feel entitled to share your opinion. You contemplate your lengthy post for quite a while, in efforts to stand out and attain the most “likes” as possible. You tend to be the emotional and passionate kind—your empathy level is real, and anything going on in the news impacts you directly. Facebook fanatics feel the need to share every one of their daily thoughts and actions, because obviously all of their friends really care that they just completed a 10-mile bike trek and that they spend their free time catching Pokémon.
Snapchat: The Doer
You’re a spur-of-the-moment, adventure seeking, happy-go-lucky type of person. Snapchat enthusiasts tend to find themselves riding on a roller-coaster that only goes up. As an extrovert, you tend to not care so much what others think about you. Typically, you’re pretty secure and confident in who you are and your appearance, or you probably wouldn’t be documenting your routinely activities via camera for everyone to see. These users are constantly trying to one-up another, showing that what you’re doing is far more exciting than what anyone else is doing.
Twitter: The Executive
Some may refer to you as the witty individual in your friend circle. Not a day goes by that you fail to make someone laugh, or impress with your quick and clever remarks. You tend to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss a “tweet worthy” moment. I’d say these users score on the higher end of the narcissist scale— but that isn’t always such an awful thing: you know who you are and you’re comfortable showing yourself to the world. You love hearing yourself talk, because every word that comes out of your mouth is pretty dang hilarious. You’re set in your ways, which can come across as ignorant. You’re great at multitasking— I’m talking doing the dishes, catching up on the news and tweeting something funny your friend said to you on the phone all at the same time.
Instagram: The Visionary
You are certainly a visual learner, driven by pretty pictures and well-organized environments. You tend to be a critical thinker— a lot of thought goes into the images you capture, such as lighting, angle, background and the story encompassed. Labeled as “the traveler,” you understand that bathroom selfies can get boring after a while. The key to more likes lies in adding some zest with trendy scenery. You crave the attention and you’ll do just about anything to snap another picture to post.
Reddit: The Mechanic
You thrive off of learning. You’re constantly in pursuit of new discoveries, and you rejoice in some good advice. You tend to be open-minded and embrace long, deep conversations with practically anyone. You’ve accepted the fact that you aren’t Albert Einstein, and there’s always something that someone else will know that you don’t. You can be somewhat of a perfectionist, but you embrace your neatness and organizational skills and don’t mind taking your time to get the job done right. A few of your favorite hobbies include maintaining your dad’s old Corvette, building Legos, and solving word problems. You’re more of the reserved, introverted type of person, but this doesn’t mean you aren’t just as [if not, more] amazing and intelligent as any extrovert.
Tumblr: The Idealist
You are the motivational quote queen or king. Your thoughts tend to be profound, and you fall on more of the eccentric side of the spectrum. Since you aren’t easily understood, you communicate through your cryptic blog posts. Some may call you “the hipster”, you are original, and don’t mind what others think of you. You tend to be quiet, but once you’re comfortable around someone, it’s obvious how genuine and caring you are. You’re really smart and think beyond what the average mind would for any particular topic of discussion. You analyze everything—from text messages, to conversations, and any possible scenario in your life. These over thinkers can’t go out on a whim, their outgoings are thoroughly planned.
Pinterest: The Inspirer
Your creativity leaves you feeling satisfied. You have an immense imagination, and are constantly thinking up new ideas for your Pinterest boards. You think that others will benefit from your great style and structure, so you create a board for just about anything and everything possible. You want your peers to be aware of your favorite hairstyles, wedding dresses, recipes, fitness plans, home decorating and travel destinations. You live your life wondering what others think of you because you see yourself as a role model. You tend to mask your insecurity by aiming to please everyone—but be careful, because this lifestyle can drive you crazy. You’re the guy or girl that turns heads on the streets of L.A., always feeling your best and looking A-Game. I’d be kidding myself if I said I didn’t get jealous of your elegance from time to time.
Before you go assuming that I’m calling specific users out, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of engaging in all these types of social media activities. It’s human nature to show off, and give our peers a little glimpse into our wonderful lives. After all, what’s wrong with having a little confidence and taking pride in our accomplishments?
