this behavior is characteristic of someone with narcissistic personality traits, particularly the need to avoid accountability, maintain control of the narrative, and protect their ego at all costs. heres what this incident tells us:  --- ### **1. self-congratulatory statements reflect ego needs**  - **seeking validation:**   the initial statement, "i don't use social media anymore," likely serves as a way to draw attention to their supposed discipline or superiority over others who do use social media.  - **moral superiority:**   this reflects the narcissistic tendency to position themselves as "better than" others, even if the claim is inconsistent with their actual behavior.  --- ### **2. inconsistency as a form of cognitive dissonance**  - **lack of self-awareness:**   narcissists often fail to see the contradictions in their actions because they are more focused on managing how they appear to others than on being logically consistent.  - **selective truths:**   they may believe their statement is true in the moment or justify the inconsistency by rationalizing that tiktok somehow doesnt "count." this reflects the mental flexibility they use to avoid admitting fault.  --- ### **3. defensiveness when challenged**  - **gaslighting behavior:**   arguing that "tiktok isnt social media" is a deflection tactic. by shifting the focus to semantics, they avoid addressing the core issuetheir inconsistency.   - this tactic makes others feel confused or doubting, which reinforces their control over the situation.  - **ego preservation:**   admitting they were wrong or inconsistent would challenge their self-image, so they engage in semantic squabbling to maintain their perceived superiority.
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