Examining the effects of narcissism and self-esteem on ephemeral online self-disclosure among adolescents

Abstract

Self-disclosure on social networking sites (SNSs) is a fascinating behaviour that has evoked interest among researchers in the field of communication studies. However, extant literature is sparse regarding the motivations of self-disclosure on ephemeral media – where instances of disclosure automatically self-destruct after a period of time. The rise of ephemeral media is a timely call for research in this dimension, especially with adolescents, as they are highly susceptible to the risks of online self-disclosure. This study adopts the uses and gratifications framework and the disclosure decision model to examine the influences that personality traits have on self-disclosure on ephemeral media. We have identified narcissism and self-esteem as key personality traits, and measured disclosure based on message and audience factors. A pen-and-paper survey was administered among secondary school students to determine the strongest predictor of self-disclosure on ephemeral platforms. Narcissism was found to have significant relationships with the audience factors of size and closeness. However, no relationship was found between narcissism and the message factors of duration and depth. The study did not find any significant relationship between self-esteem and all message and audience factors.