Selena Gomez has opened up about social media and the impact it has had and is having on young people and her generation.
The actress was speaking at a Cannes Film Festival press event in France where she is there to promote her latest film by Jim Jarmusch "The Dead Don't Die," which also stars Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Tilda Swinton.
The 26-year-old is currently the third most followed star on Instagram with 150 million followers after Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 166 million, and Ariana Grande who has 155 million. She previously was the most followed star up until recently.
Gomez said "Social media has really been terrible for my generation. I understand that it's amazing to use your platform, but it does scare me when you see how exposed these young girls and young boys are.
"They're not really aware of the news or anything going on. It's, I don't want to say selfish, because that feels rude, but I think it's dangerous, for sure. I don't think people are getting the right information sometimes.
When asked what she thought tech companies should be doing to make social media safer, she said it was too late.
"I think it's pretty impossible to make it safe at this point, there's no blocking anything. They're exposed immediately and again, I'm very grateful to have the platform, so in any way that I can, I'll share things that I'm really passionate about.
"I also don't do a lot of pointless pictures. I think for me, I like to be intentional about it. It just scares me, because I see these young girls and I'll meet them at Meet and Greets or something and they're just devastated dealing with bullying and not being able to have their own voice.
"It can be great in moments, but you know, I would just be careful and allow yourself some time limits for when you should use it and when you should it."
Selena took a hiatus from social media in September last year, taking to Instagram to let her followers know: "As much as I am grateful for the voice that social media gives us, I am equally grateful to be able 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 [obviously]."
She told Elle last year that she doesn't have Instagram on her phone nor the password to her account, and accesses her profile from her friend's phone.
“The reason why is, it’s not real to me,” she added. “I know my voice is very prominent, but I’m not careless with it. I’m selective. As far as my personal life, someone sees me having a glass of wine? I could give two shits. I’m not trying to hide.
"That’s my life. I’m living it the way I want to live it. But it’s about making a conscious effort—if I can have a moment to be with my friends, I’ll take that time. So I don’t have any of it. I had to make that decision."
