Social Botox and Digital Narcissism: A Systematic Literature Review on the Intersection of Social Media and Personality Traits

Background: The rapid proliferation of social media has transformed self-presentation and identity, fostering environments that amplify impression management and idealized personas. This review examines "Social Botox," the societal pressure for aesthetic perfection driven by social media, alongside "Digital Narcissism," a set of egocentric behaviors characterized by excessive self-presentation and validation-seeking. It explores how these phenomena intersect with personality traits, their psychological mechanisms, and their impact on mental health and social interactions. Methods: A systematic literature search (2014–2025) was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "Social Botox," "Digital Narcissism," "social media," "personality traits," and "self-presentation." Inclusion criteria prioritized peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses focusing on psychological mechanisms, personality correlates, and social media impacts. Non-peer-reviewed sources and non-English articles were excluded unless foundational. Data were synthesized thematically to identify trends, mechanisms, and research gaps. Results: Social Botox, encompassing both cosmetic interventions and digital enhancements, is driven by social media’s idealized standards, with 40% of users reporting body dissatisfaction. Digital Narcissism, linked to narcissistic personality traits, manifests in excessive selfie-posting and validation-seeking, reinforced by a feedback loop of likes and compliments (70% of users report increased self-focus). Social comparison and self-discrepancy amplify body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, while false self-presentation correlates with heightened fear of negative evaluation. Women aged 18–34 are particularly affected, with 65% reporting pressure to conform to digital beauty ideals. Limited longitudinal data exist on long-term mental health impacts. Conclusions: Social Botox and Digital Narcissism reflect a complex interplay between social media, personality traits, and psychological well-being. While cosmetic enhancements and curated personas boost short-term confidence, they risk exacerbating body dissatisfaction, narcissistic tendencies, and inauthentic interactions. Interventions targeting social comparison and self-esteem, alongside ethical social media design, are critical. Longitudinal research is needed to assess long-term impacts on mental health and personality development, ensuring balanced approaches to identity and well-being in digital contexts.