Social media has become a huge platform to share thoughts, ideas, funny things and the like. Unfortunately, not everyone uses social media to stay in touch with friends or relatives, or to share thoughts and ideas. Narcissists use social media in a more sinister way. They use social media to carefully construct posts to manipulate those on their friends list.
When I was a young child, we didn’t have the internet. In fact, it didn’t come into existence until I was a sophomore in high school. This society had to rely on using the telephone or handwritten letters to contact friends or family. We had to walk, drive or fly an airplane to visit with people.
Back then, it was harder for Narcissists to manipulate people. Opportunities to manipulate weren’t so readily available. With the internet, it is as easy as a few short clicks of letters on a computer keyboard and pressing enter. By definition To manipulate is to skillfully arrange something in a different manner. So when Narcissists manipulate others, they are essentially underhandedly changing the way a person thinks. Why do they do this? Narcissists manipulate because they can. That’s what it boils down to. They think they can get away with what they do. They manipulate in order to get others to do what they want, or to see things their way. Why social media is a perfect platform Social media acts as the perfect outlet for Narcissists. They can reach hundreds of unsuspecting “friends” with their insidious tactics. My NX doesn’t post a lot as “public” to his Facebook page. But when he does, it’s typically about his “brothers and sisters in arms.” (Personally, I think all that bragging about being in the military is pointless considering he got honorably discharged for not having a family care plan.) My NX will throw in other public Facebook posts purposely too, just for my benefit. I used to peek, but I have since blocked both him and his NS. He would post pics of the two of them with my children. They would be canoeing, hiking, going to college football games, etc. All his “friends” would comment with “oh you’re such a great daddy” and things like that. Talk about manipulation! He is only posting the “good” things that he wants people to see. Like recently, he posted how “in love” he is with his NS and how happy she makes him and the children. Oh please……that was for my benefit to see to get me riled up. He also publicly posts when he complains about me. Like the time I saw the children a few years ago. I literally only get one week with my children, so since my time is very limited, I don’t want to be bothered with needless phone calls. He posts on the internet about how he “misses those little monsters” and how their mother (me) “wouldn’t allow” him to talk to them. Then his “friends” respond with how evil I am. Oh if they only knew that they are being played!! Or the time when he recently publicly ranted about the children's mother (me) putting money into the children's food account at school. Stated that anyone can throw money at a child and call themselves a mother, but it would take a real woman like his NS to be there for the kids. Talk about manipulation! Talk about public defamation of character! Why they’re so good at it Narcissists are so good at manipulating others because it’s all they do. They have no other purpose in life other than to trick people into believing what they want them to believe. They are so good at getting what they want because of this. They stop at nothing to get what they want. And as such, they will always place their own needs and wants above everyone else’s – including their own children. Social media like Facebook is such a good outlet for manipulation because it reaches a much wider audience. And we all know how much Narcissists LOVE all the attention and adulation they can get! Just some of the ways Narcissists manipulate others:
Bottom line Narcissists use social media to manipulate because they need attention. They crave it like an addict craves their next fix. Social media is the easiest way to get this fix, too. It’s right at their fingertips. The best thing to do in this case is not to play along in their game. Block them on all forms of social media, so that you do not have to see or hear about their ridiculous lies. Since I have done that, my life has grown that much more peaceful. Has the Narcissist in your life used social media to manipulate others? Comment below. And as always, I appreciate you for sharing your stories with me.
6 Comments
Hello
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Jenn
4/27/2017 07:37:48 am
Scarlett.......Thank you for your comments.
Reply
Dear Jenn,
Danny
6/27/2017 01:58:27 pm
I'm sorry are these comments suppose to be helpful to the writer here? I'm asking because I found them very passive aggressive with zero compassion for a survivors journey, or where she may be in her recovery. It seems to me your focused more on acting "over" your narcissist and "getting a life of your own" mentality then actually going through the process of healing, because true healing can take years and everyone's journey is different, believe me no two are alike. I would take all that into consideration before passing judgement or placing blame.
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Yami
5/16/2018 01:08:43 pm
Obviously a Narc speaking out ***. Didn’t they ever teach you if you have nothing nice to say just keep your 🤐 shut.
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Cat
6/1/2017 02:20:44 am
I am in the middle of a high conflict divorce after 14 years of marriage. He had an affair (I'm sure there were many! That's not really my point though. He has seen our children a total of 6 hour since October 2016 and has fought me in court and wasted more money on seeing children he could careless about! Recently, our daughter had her 7th bday, He put a post on FB saying happy birthday to his little peanut, yet didn't even bother to send her a card or gift. Everyone liked it and commented on his post while I wanted to vomit and yell at the top of my lungs that he didnt even bother sending her a card. I sent an email requesting that he help me offset her bday party cost and he refused and stated that we had always disagreed about spending money on the children....ALL BULLCRAP. I have such a hard time with everyone thinking he is the greatest guy ever. I didn't comment but I really wanted too. His mistress also just put a pic of the two of them stating that he is the one. I am attempting to think like him and realize that he wanted a reaction from me so he could use it to make me look crazy in court. I consider myself strong, independent, and relatively intelligent, SO how did I allow this to happen and now effect my kids? I feel foolish, robbed, and sad that I have honestly never been loved nor have my kids by him. Social media = fake personas!!!! I am not taking the bait, as I am 200 percent sure that is what he wants me to do.
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Greetings, my warrior survivor friends! Welcome to my blog. I'm Julianna Jen, the owner and creator of this site. Check out the My Story section to read about why I started this blog. Thanks for stopping in. And feel free to comment on any post, share your own thoughts and stories. I would love to hear from you! Archives
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