‘It’s negative hate that is genuinely so horrifying to me…’ The stars who have taken a stand against toxic social media trends
Social media should come with a warning…
Social media is now a huge part of our lives and for better or worse it is not going away. The world’s biggest stars use platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat to boost their profile, connect with their fans and share insights into their lives. And many celebrities have also used the same platforms to speak out about the dangers of social media, such as trolls, online bullying, image filters and more… Read on to find out who these social media crusaders are…
Demi Lovato
The actress and singer has been open about how social media has affected her self-esteem, especially when it comes to chasing unrealistic beauty standards. One time Demi took to TikTok to complain about how face filters can wreck the confidence of people, but especially teenagers. She said: “These are not my real eyes. How are teens supposed to learn to accept themselves with this?”
Jameela Jamil
The ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ star has also spoken out about the unattainable beauty standards imposed on the public by social media. In a 2021 Instagram post, she said: “This is what teenagers are being taught the beauty standard is… God help the youth!”
Tyra Banks
Supermodel Tyra Banks is an avid critic of social media for the unrealistic beauty standards so many celebs and influencers promote on the various platforms. On her Instagram account she posted a photo of her makeup-free face, in which she wrote how easy it is to share a natural picture, but we sometimes choose to add a couple filters to look “better”. Tyra wrote: “You deserve to see the real me.”
Bella Hadid
Another model who is not a big fan of artificial appearances on social media is the talented Bella Hadid. In 2021 she posted an Instagram picture where she shows herself just the way she is, without makeup or image filters. She has even shared a some photos of herself crying, showing her true and natural appearance and mental state. She once wrote: “Social media is not real. For anyone struggling, please remember that.”
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has had numerous ups and downs in her career and life, from breaking up with Justin Bieber to needing a kidney transplant due to her having lupus. These major life events have led her to be trolled online and in a 2017 interview with the New York Times she spoke plainly about the effect the trolls had on her. She said: “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.” Ultimately, Selena took a break from social media, and she admitted it was the best decision for her mental health.
Emma Stone
Compared to many other celebrities, Emma Stone has never felt comfortable sharing details of her life on social media. Emma admitted in a 2018 interview with ELLE that she stays off social media because she doesn’t have the confidence to deal with trolls who may send hate her way. She 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. “I struggled a couple of years ago with feeling like how I looked was being scrutinized, and then I realized that anything that really bothers me that people could comment on is something I’m already worried about.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In an interview on Yahoo News podcast ‘Skullduggery’, the American activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pointed out some crucial points about the impact she believes social networks have on people’s mental health. Among her comments, she said that “social media represents a public health risk for everyone”, especially for the youngest.
Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello has admitted that what she hates about social media is having to deal with criticism and negative opinions from people who don’t know her and who she doesn’t know, even though she loves connecting with her millions of fans. Speaking on ‘The Zane Lowe Show’ for Apple Music, Camila said: “I just want to live the best life I can and be the best artist I can be. I can’t do that if I care what people think. I can’t do that if I’m trying to please.”
