Interview with psychologist Katy Le Bihan on the issue of social networks.

Our blog focuses on psychology, self-identity and the relationship these topics have with social networks, which influence a large part of our generation.

We have written articles that shed light on the use of social networks but also on the influence they have in decision making, information, ...

If we confronted our opinions on the issue in order to write our articles and challenge our readers, it seemed interesting to us to contact a psychologist to ask her questions about social networks, the use we make of them and the impact on our choices and the choices of society in general.

Katy Le Bihan has been a psychologist for about ten years. She is used to working with a wide variety of patients, both in terms of age and personality. 

So take advantage of her experience!

Can you introduce yourself?

Yes, my name is Katy Le Bihan, I'm a psychologist in Paris in the 18th district for 10 years after having made a first career in the audiovisual industry as a post-production director in advertising.

So we're going to talk about the psychology of social networks. Can you tell me what are the negative and positive effects of social networks on individuals?

In my opinion, the positive effects would be contact, access to content and exchanges of information, experience, culture and connection.

The harmful effects would be abuse like any addiction such as cigarettes, alcohol, ... And perhaps also the withdrawal into oneself in the belief of opening up to others. Withdrawal into oneself by losing interest in other activities to the detriment of time spent on social networks.

Is well-being and social networks possible?

Yes of course. Everything depends on their use. It is possible as long as we know who we are, that we are well surrounded, that we are in a life where we are not too isolated or indeed we do not feel inferior to others or difficult to compare. We live in a society where we are taught to compare ourselves, where we have to be beautiful, strong, ... So, if we use them well and with full knowledge of the facts, I think that it can, I wouldn't say make us happy, but satisfy us. If we are called into this unreal world, it's not good for our mental health.

What are the effects of social networks on today's society?

They have a growing place and become part of the whole society. They are taking power or at least they are taking the place of the big media that we could have had before such as radio or television on the propagation and multiplication of information that is often unverified or even erroneous. This confuses a whole section of society about what one may or may not think. It may eventually prevent us from thinking. There are so many points of view that it can prevent people from having a clear opinion that will allow them to decide what they are going to do in life. 

Do social networks reflect a need to be loved?

 On people who are isolated, it's an opening to the world, a way to communicate with people. So communication for humans is a narcissistic reinforcement. It also creates a narcissistic society. The photos we post on social networks are rarely the ones where we are ugly. They're always great places, great people, so it's narcissistic. It creates a cult of the person, a cult of the self. It can degrade altruism.  

Do social networks strengthen the bonds between individuals?

They multiply them. On social networks, you can have 4,000 friends. I don't think in real life nobody has 4,000 friends. It dehumanizes the meaning of friendship. So, yes, they deplete the bonds. 

Do you think social networks create complexes? 

Even more than that. They create suicides too. It's all comparisons and everyone's trying to show their best image. It's the race to the one who has made the most beautiful trips, who owns the most beautiful shoes, ... So, yes, you have the feeling that you are not as good as the one you see on social networks. This creates complexes and if people are psychologically a little bit fragile, in a social anxiety, it can go very far. 

Do social networks reflect an individual's narcicism or do they create it?

Our society shows that you have to be handsome, intelligent, thin, young, have an exciting job, ... Criteria that are inateable. So social networks exacerbate narcissism but they can also twist it. If we compare ourselves too much and each time we feel worse than others, our narcissism can collapse. People can build avatars inflating their narcissism on social networks. 

They then find themselves in a kind of schyzoprenia between social networks and reality that can go far. 

In your opinion, does the immediacy of information on social networks prevent the individual from cultivating patience?

I would even say an intolerance to frustration. In my day, you had to go to the library, look for books, ... We didn't have information like that. And when you did have it, you had to eventually look further. Now we're talking about generations of people who are intolerant of frustration. I need information, I need it in a second. We're so quickly fed that we're not necessarily going to flesh out the information we receive. It's a matter of patience. 

Thank you very much! 

Suzanne Mariaud, Fleur Antignac, Salomé Laoeuilhe, Paloma Mayet-Humbert, Emma Peligry with the participation of Katy Le Bihan psychologist.