When Narcissus Met Dorian Gray

The combination of ego and curiosity is a dangerous thing.

“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” — Oscar Wilde, 1892

If you want to get someone’s attention, it’s simple: ask them about themselves. 

It was one of the most important premises behind Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

And that’s exactly what FaceApp did last week. It tapped into two powerful strains of human nature: curiosity about our own future and narcissism. It’s as if Dorian Gray met Narcissus.

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde introduced us to Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who had his portrait painted. Afterward, he wished that he could remain the same age forever, but that the portrait would age. He soon finds out he made a Faustian bargain: he retains his youth but has lost his soul. The portrait, stored in an attic,…