SHUTTERSTOCK
Instagram is one of the many ways celebrities communicate with their fans over social media. Celebrities can post about upcoming single releases, albums, tours, and information about their personal life.
Sometimes, the comments from the fans get too extreme for the stars to handle. As of today, the pop star and former Disney Channel star, Selena Gomez has publicly announced that she has deleted her Instagram app off her phone. However, her account is still available for her fans to follow.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4q6GPAeML/
The Impact of Instagram
She has one of the most followed accounts on Instagram with 152 million fans and claims to be ditching Instagram for mental health purposes. Selena reported to The Sun that Instagram is “dangerous” and “unhealthy” for younger people who spend endless amounts of hours posting and liking pictures. Our world practically revolves around social media and images are very powerful to many individuals, like celebrities. She thinks that social media has been “terrible” for our generation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnja9NvAWUg/
“Imagine all the insecurities that you already feel about yourself and having someone write a paragraph pointing out every little thing — even if it’s just physical.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiXCDKNg_vD/
The Trolls
Last week, Selena went on Live with Kelly and Ryan and addressed her issues with Instagram. She said, “Instagram makes me feel depressed.” Selena even mentioned how she deletes the Instagram app from her phone at least once a week. When she looks at her account, she said, “It would make me feel not good about myself, and look at my body differently.”
She reported to Kelly and Ryan she would get obsessed by the “trolls” and negative comments on there, and it became overwhelming, which was the main reason why she would continuously delete the app.
“It’s like they [the trolls] want to cut to your soul.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh4gHEUAdDs/
Ever since Selena got her Kidney transplant in 2017, her assistant has been taking over her account. That same year Selena took a hiatus from the spotlight to focus on her mental health while at a rehab facility, where she didn’t use her phone for 90 days. Our generation probably wouldn’t be able to handle going for just a day without looking at their Instagram feed. Instagram has become such an addiction that it is impossible to make it stop.
Using her Platform
When Selena spoke at the Cannes Film Festival last month, she said that while Instagram was a “useful” platform, she said it “scared” her how young people were so preoccupied with it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGKnaMKujA8/
Selena is right. Our generation should spend time reducing the usage of social media and learn to appreciate just the moments we share with people. Not everything revolves around comments we see on Instagram or other applications. After you finish looking at this article, take a moment and put your phone down. Live in the moment and seize every day.
