Celebs who took a social media break, from Selena Gomez to Kylie Jenner
Celebrities increasingly are taking social media breaks and daring to turn off Twitter, ignore Instagram, and step away from Snapchat.
Celebrities are just like us in some ways: They sometimes feel overwhelmed by the 24/7 everywhere-you-look presence of social media. Increasingly, celebrities are responding to that challenge by temporarily stepping away from platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
From Selena Gomez to Kylie Jenner, the following stars have shared their decisions to take a sabbatical from social media. In doing so, they’ve given us some useful lessons on how we too can take a social media break.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 04: Singer Selena Gomez attends the Prada Resort 2019 fashion show on May 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Getty Images)
Selena Gomez
Songstress Selena Gomez ranks high on the list of most-followed Instagram celebrities. But Gomez told Billboard that every so often, she takes a break from social media.
“Removing myself was about spending time with things that matter,” explained Selena.
Gomez values spending time with her friends and enjoying “meaningful conversations [that] remind you that it’s all within where we are.” In contrast, Selena pointed out that social media emphasizes “what’s happening with everything else.”
Lesson 1: As Selena learned, stepping away from platforms such as Facebook and Twitter provides a way to focus on you and those close to you in the real (not virtual) world.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 24: Ed Sheeran performs on stage at Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran told People that his break from social media provided him with a way to reflect. He realized that celebrity social media is “very much like 0 to 100” in terms of how quickly people respond to what a star posts. And the attention fades just as quickly.
“There will be internet fads that last for a day, and it’ll be the biggest f—ing thing for a day, and then it’s [gone],” pointed out Ed. “I needed to get away [from social media]. I kind of eased back into life and reality.”
Lesson 2: Taking a break from Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media helps provide a reality check when it comes to what really matters in life.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Huffington Post)
Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner went from being a constant presence on social media to silence. Even though Kylie herself never announced why she was taking a sabbatical from Instagram and Twitter prior to her return, fans soon learned the reason: Jenner was pregnant!
Jenner enjoyed her “private moments away from the spotlight and her break from social media,” an insider told Hollywood Life. And when she returned, Kylie soon was “back at it again,” as she wrote on Instagram, with that happy new mom glow.
Lesson 3: Got something special happening in your life, such as taking a fitness boot camp, preparing for law school exams, or potty-training your son? Focus on that event by taking time away from the distractions of social media.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Amber Rose attends the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Amber Rose
The always-candid Amber Rose is an example of a celebrity who kept it simple when sharing her decision for taking a break from Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.
“Hey guys, I just want to let everyone know that I’m taking the rest of the year off of social media,” wrote Amber in December of 2016.
Lesson 4: You don’t owe anyone long, elaborate explanations if you decide to take time away from Facebook or Instagram. Make the decision for yourself, and enjoy the freedom of not feeling obligated to check every hour (or every few minutes?) to see what Nellie Knows-All has posted on Snapchat!
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Have you taken a social media break in the past? What did you learn from your time away?