Emma Stone Opens Up About Social Media Choices and Mental Wellbeing
In a candid new interview, acclaimed actress Emma Stone has detailed her deliberate decision to abstain from Instagram, a platform embraced by many of her Hollywood contemporaries. The 37-year-old star, currently nominated for an Oscar for her role in Bugonia, explained that this choice stems from a conscious effort to safeguard her mental health.
Prioritising Offline Peace Over Online Presence
Stone revealed that rather than maintaining an active social media profile to connect with peers and fans, she opts to stay largely offline. "I'm too afraid of my own mental health to be engaged in that way," she stated frankly during her conversation with Rolling Stone. This admission highlights a growing awareness among public figures about the potential psychological impacts of constant digital engagement.
However, the actress did confess to being an avid "lurker" on one particular platform. She subscribes to multiple blogs on Substack, where she spends considerable time and money following content ranging from fashion and creative writing to occasional gossip. "I'm truly one of the Substack freaks. I'm spending a lot of money on Substack," she admitted, illustrating her alternative approach to staying culturally informed without active posting.
Behind the Scenes of a Super Bowl Commercial
The interview also explored Stone's upcoming Super Bowl commercial for Squarespace, set to air on February 8. Directed by her frequent collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos, the advertisement features Stone attempting to purchase a domain and create a website under her real name. Intriguingly, this wasn't purely acting; Stone disclosed that she genuinely acquired the domain as part of the process.
Reflecting on why she hadn't secured her domain earlier, Stone remarked, "I don't know why I never actually did that." She expressed gratitude to Squarespace for handling this oversight, noting that without their intervention, the commercial's premise would have faltered. When questioned about potentially transforming the site into a lifestyle blog, her response was unequivocal: "One hundred percent no. That's why I don't even have Instagram."
A Lifelong Fascination with Digital Platforms
Stone's relationship with online spaces isn't entirely modern. She reminisced about her younger years, recalling a passion for building "prototypical sites" and creating digital presentations as early as elementary school. The actress also mentioned her fondness for LiveJournal and her history as a dedicated blog reader, which has now evolved into her Substack subscriptions.
This revelation comes as Stone prepares for the Academy Awards on March 15, where she is nominated for Best Actress for Bugonia. The film itself is in contention for Best Picture, competing against titles like Hamnet and Sentimental Value. Stone also served as a producer on the project, reuniting with Lanthimos after their successful partnership on Poor Things.
By sharing her personal strategies for navigating the digital landscape, Emma Stone offers a nuanced perspective on balancing public life with private wellbeing, emphasising that sometimes, stepping back from social media can be a powerful act of self-care.
