Spare a thought for the Instagram influencers and social media mavens of Victoria: they haven’t been recognised in public for, like, months. 

Thanks to mask-wearing diktats and twenty-two-hour isolation at the pain of $5,000 fines, the cracks in their filtered and Photoshopped veneer may be appearing. Maybe they aren’t so special after all. 

They can turn to their cabinets full of participation trophies and framed certificates declaring their eternal cosmic significance for comfort. However, their demand for admiration outstrips the supply; and their demand is bottomless. 

But don’t worry everyone. They’re safe from ego-harm, At least they are not reminded of their own mortal fragility. 

Israeli-Macedonian author, Narcissism expert, and polymath (psychologist, physicist, and economist) Dr Sam Vaknin, PhD...