Association of Dark Tetrad personality factors

In a study conducted by Kircaburun et al., (2018), direct and indirect associations were noted with the factors in this tetrad and the problematic social media use. There main online behaviour issues were focussed in this study and these were cyberbullying, cyber trolling and cyber stalking. Machiavellianism and PSMU were found to be associated in different mediation analysis. PSMU was directly linked with narcissistic behaviour through cyber stalking. Sadism and PSMU were associated strongly through cyberstalking and cyber bullying. Cyber trolling was linked with psychopathy, sadism and Machiavellianism. It was suggested by the authors of this paper, that antisocial online behaviors are showing link between the different dark personality traits and PSMU in both men and women.

The personality trait of sadism has been found to be a unique predictor of such behavior (van Geel et al., 2017). In a study conducted by Chung et al., (2019) habitual use of social media platform is also termed as pathogenic. According to them spending more than two hours a day on these platforms should be termed as problematic as it is reported that such individuals suffer from poor mental health (Sampasa-Kanyinga & Lewis, 2015). Chung et al., (2019) have performed various measures to understand the deviant and addictive use of social media and how these are linked with personality traits. It has been noted that spending greater time on these platforms is correlated positively with personality trait of psychopathy and leads to social media addiction. Females have higher correlation with social media use and addiction. They have demonstrated that it is important to adopt a multiple measurement approach for assessing the demographic-sociological and psychological variables associated with initiation, maintenance and development of addictive behaviours.