10 Celebrities Open Up About Social Media Anxiety and Why They Quit the Internet

Since the introduction of smartphones, social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, we can stay connected, informed, and entertained. On the other, we wind up lonely, anxious, and sometimes depressed. Luckily, there’s a scientifically proven way to reap the benefits without suffering the drawbacks: by limiting your social media use to 30 minutes daily.

The Bright Side team collected 10 celebrities who decided to take their digital detox to the next level and give up social media altogether.

1. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez is well known for speaking out about the impact social media has had on her mental health. Gomez is clearly present on social media, but she isn’t the one behind the screen. Her assistant is in charge of marketing her content.

Gomez has been avoiding social media for more than 4 years in order to protect her mental health. “Taking a break from social media was the best decision that I’ve ever made for my mental health,” Gomez said. She added that social media made her feel bad about herself and made her look at her body differently.

2. Emma Stone

After her Twitter account was hacked in 2012, Emma Stone deleted it and hasn’t returned since. Discussing the effects of social media, Stone said, “I think it wouldn’t be a positive thing for me. If people can handle that sort of output and input in the social media sphere, power to them.”

3. Lizzo

Lizzo announced in January 2020 that she was quitting Twitter and that she’d return when she felt like it. In an Instagram Live session, she explained that the reason behind her decision was negativity. She also encouraged people who feel exhausted by social media to take a hiatus from being online and breathe.

4. Aamir Khan

On his fifty-sixth birthday, Aamir Khan announced that he was saying goodbye to all of his social media platforms. Later, he told the media there was no reason behind his decision, since he was not an active poster in the first place. Moreover, being from an older generation, Khan prefers to talk to his audience only through the media.

5. Lana Del Rey

In September 2021, Lana Del Rey posted a goodbye video on Instagram to announce that she’d be deactivating all of her accounts because she was after more privacy and wanted to focus on other jobs and interests. As Rey thanked her fans, she promised to write more music and poetry in the future.

6. Ariana Grande

In December 2021, Ariana Grande deleted her Twitter account without any warning or explanation. This wasn’t Grande’s first time stepping away from social media. After her breakup with Pete Davidson, she decided to take a break from the Internet for a while.

7. Ed Sheeran

In 2015, Ed Sheeran took a year off from social media. Instead of focusing on the unthoughtful comments on his mobile screen, the singer preferred to focus on reading the positive feedback on websites he enjoyed and getting reality checks from friends and family.

8. Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose deleted her Twitter account in 2018 and restricted comments on her Instagram account to people she knew. She also limited her Facebook presence because of the comments she received. She mentioned that she was planning to delete Twitter.

9. Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley said she “freaked out” on the first day she got Twitter years ago. Because she wants to keep her personal life private and her children safe, and taking good pictures isn’t one of her talents, Knightley prefers to stay offline.

10. Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen, who had been a frequent Twitter user, temporarily deactivated her account in March 2021. “It was time to say goodbye,” she remarked, as it no longer served her and turned her into a “different human.”

Have you tried a digital detox before? For how long can you go without checking your social media accounts? Let us know in the comments.