Selena Gomez deleted Instagram from her phone because it made her ‘depressed’

‘I think it’s become really unhealthy for young people’

Selena Gomez has revealed she deleted Instagram from her phone because it was making her feel depressed.

On Wednesday, the singer and actor discussed the pitfalls of social media during an interview with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest about her upcoming zombie comedy film The Dead Don’t Die.

When asked if she manages to stay engaged with her 152m followers on Instagram, Gomez said: “I used to a lot but I think it's become really unhealthy for young people, including myself, to spend all of their time fixating on all of these comments and letting this stuff in."

The star went on to explain how using Instagram so much was negatively affecting her mood and self-esteem.

“It would make me depressed, it would make me feel not good about myself, and look at my body differently,” Gomez said.

The 26-year-old continued, reminding people that in order to manage her social media use, she doesn’t actually have the photo-sharing app installed on her phone.

In September 2018, the star told Elle US that she doesn't know her password for Instagram and has no social media apps on her phone.

"I have it on someone else's phone and when I feel like I wanna share something with my fans, I do it then," the actor told Ripa and Seacrest.

This isn’t the first time Gomez has shared her viewpoints on social media.

Last month, the singer opened up about the “devastating” effect social media can have on young people, describing its influence as “terrible” for her generation

During a press conference at Cannes Film Festival, Gomez said:“I understand that it’s amazing to use as a platform but it does scare me when you see how exposed these young girls and boys are. I think it’s dangerous for sure."

The star also said it is “impossible” to make social media platforms safer, adding: “I’m grateful I have a platform. I don’t do a lot of pointless pictures. For me, I like to be intentional with it.

“I see these young girls … I’ll meet them at meet-and-greets, and they’re just devastated by bullying and not having a voice.

“I would be careful and allow yourself some time limits of when you should use it,” she advised users of social media.

Over the years, Gomez has taken several breaks from social media in order to prioritise looking after her mental health.

The “I Can’t Get Enough” singer’s latest social media hiatus was in September 2018, before which she notified her followers that she would be taking some time off the platform.

“Taking a social media break. Again,“ she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post.

"As much as I am grateful for the voice that social media gives each of us, I am equally grateful to be able to step back and live my life present to the moment I have been given.

“Kindness and encouragement only for a bit! Just remember- negative comments can hurt anybody’s feelings. Obvi. [sic]"

A month later, Gomez entered a treatment facility to address ongoing issues related to her anxiety and depression.