Addicted to likes? This one phone habit could reveal you are dealing with a narcissist, experts say

We’ve all joked about someone being “obsessed with their phone,” but what if that attachment to the screen is more than just habit? According to new psychological research, the way someone uses their smartphone—particularly when it comes to social media—might offer a revealing glimpse into something deeper: narcissism.

In a study published in the Journal of Research in Personality, researchers from the University of Gdańsk in Poland have uncovered a striking link between compulsive social media use and narcissistic traits. The findings are both fascinating and unsettling—pointing to the idea that your friend who can’t stop scrolling might not just be bored, but showing signs of a much more complex personality issue.

The Mirror in Your Palm
HelpGuide.org describes narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) as being “in love with an idealized, grandiose image of themselves.” This exaggerated self-image, they explain, acts as a mask—shielding deep-rooted insecurities. But that mask isn’t effortless to maintain. It demands constant admiration, external validation, and a curated reality, all of which platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook readily provide.

According to the study, which surveyed 665 social media users, nearly all expressions of narcissism—ranging from admiration to rivalry, isolation to heroism—were associated with higher addiction to social media, with the only exception being the trait of sanctity.

Scroll, Like, Repeat: The Addictive Loop of Praise
Addiction specialists are now seeing this digital devotion as more than just a cultural shift. The Addiction Center notes that as many as 10 percent of Americans may be addicted to social media. Warning signs include neglecting real-life relationships, missing social events, losing interest in hobbies, and declining performance at work—all in favor of online interaction.

Why is this so enticing? Dr. Anna Lembke, addiction medicine specialist and author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, explains it in one word: dopamine. That quick hit of happiness when someone likes your post isn’t harmless—it triggers a pleasure response in the brain, reinforcing the behavior. But over time, the system becomes overloaded. The more we seek these digital highs, the less satisfying they become. It becomes a loop of diminishing returns, leading to overuse and, for some, dependency.

The Narcissist Next Door? The Telltale Signs in the Scroll
What does this mean for your everyday interactions? If someone close to you seems obsessed with social media, frequently fishing for praise, avoiding deeper emotional connections, or constantly needing to feel superior, psychologists say these could be signs of narcissistic tendencies.

According to a report from UNILAD Tech, the Cleveland Clinic outlines traits like entitlement, lack of empathy, constant need for admiration, and arrogance as classic markers of NPD. Pair those with compulsive phone use and it’s not just a bad habit—it might be a red flag.

In a world increasingly mediated by screens, it’s worth asking: is our need for connection becoming a need for applause? And at what point does performance for likes become a psychological warning sign?