Instagram as a narcissistic place in the context Byung-Chull Han's transparency society

Throughout history, various changes and transformations have occurred in societies. Digitalization, which has become the dominant force of our age, has also given birth to the social personality type along with the changes it has created in the social structure. Today, it is seen that the narcissistic personality type created by the social system has become widespread, especially with the use of social networks. Indeed, it is thought that Instagram, which has a high usage rate among young people, affects the prevalence of narcissism by offering a new socialization space. This study examines the relationship between the level of narcissism and the level of Instagram addiction in the context of Byung-Chul Han's theory of transparency society, which analyzes the digital age we live in from a different perspective. The aim of the study is to analyze the narcissistic individual as a common personality type in the transparency society with Byung-Chul Han's concept set and to contribute to the sociological literature in the relevant field. In this context, it is aimed to examine the relationship between the narcissism level and Instagram addiction of university students and their demographic characteristics (gender, number of monthly posts, frequency of photo sharing, frequency of taking selfies, filter use). The predictive correlational research model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The sample of the study consists of 603 students who continue their undergraduate education at Bingöl University in the 2023/2024 academic year. To obtain data in the study; Demographic Information Form, Narcissistic Personality Inventory and Instagram Addiction Scale were used. The data was analyzed using SPSS 25 program. As a result of the research, a positive and significant relationship was found to be sustained between narcissism level and Instagram connections. Narcissism level varies according to gender, monthly post amount and photo sharing rates. A significant relationship was found between the rate of taking selfies and narcissism level and Instagram. No significant relationship was found between filter use and narcissism level. There are significant relationships between Instagram and sub-dimensions related to changeable narcissism. At the same time, a significant relationship was found between narcissism level and Instagram sub-dimensions. In line with these results; it is possible to evaluate that narcissistic personality, which Byung-Chul Han describes as the dominant psychopathology of the age while analyzing today's social structure, has found a place for itself through Instagram. The exhibition society, disclosure society, openness society, information society, positivity society, informality society, porn society, acceleration society, control society that Han classifies in the context of transparency society explain how narcissistic personality is fed and spread by the social system through social networks.