43 People Who Seem To Think The World Revolves Around Them

The term “Main Character Syndrome” is a relatively new concept that came about in the age of social media. As the name suggests, it’s when a person presents themselves in a way that they believe they are part of their own Hollywood film. 

It is an entirely different concept from self-presentation (a.k.a. impression management), which, according to Swansea University psychology professor Phil Reed, can cause some confusion.

“Here, a person focuses on one or more aspects of themself that they hope fit the situation, often to their own advantage,” Reed wrote in reference to self-presentation. “Adopting different behaviors from our repertoires, in different contexts, in order to highlight aspects of our own personality, is entirely acceptable”.

Reed further noted that people with Main Character Syndrome want to be somebody else entirely, then present their “perfect life” on social media.

Since teenagers are exposed to social media early on in their lives, there’s a likelihood for them to develop Main Character Syndrome at a young age. According to child psychologist Caitlin Slavens, social platforms are designed to encourage this behavior simply through the engagement metrics.

“The pressure to present an idealized life can blur the line between reality and performance. Every like or comment reinforces the idea that their online persona is their true self, making it harder just to be,” Slavens said.

Experts agree that main character syndrome has its positives, like dreaming big, improved storytelling skills, and building a sense of agency and purpose, among others. It’s all about finding the balance. And Slavens says the bigger responsibility is on the parents.

“Emphasize the importance of community, empathy, and shared experiences to help them find a balance between their online persona and real-world connections,” Slavens said.

She also noted parents should recognize and validate their teenager’s need to feel seen, but also remind them that they’re “part of a much bigger story, much like everyone else.”