Billie Eilish revealed, in an episode of Conan O’Brien’s podcast, that she deleted all her social media apps. The singer said that not having the internet during her childhood was a blessing, but its presence during her teen years gave her a community to be a part of.
Eilish added that she is uncomfortable looking at old pictures of herself, and stumbling across content centered around her is “icky.” The singer emphasized her desire for personal boundaries and anonymity, saying she does not want the world to know every detail about her.
Read on to learn more.
Billie Eilish Says She’s Going On Social Media Break
With a massive following of 110 million on Instagram, the young pop sensation has decided to take the plunge and go on a social media hiatus. In a forthcoming episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, the 21-year-old revealed that she has deleted all social media apps from her phone. She said she no longer checks social media and it’s such a “huge deal” for her.
“I deleted it all off my phone, which is such a huge deal for me. Cause dude, you didn’t have the internet to grow up with,” she said per Page Six. This bold move by Eilish is inspiring, as it demonstrates that taking a break from social media can positively impact one’s mental health and well-being.
‘I Wasn’t An iPad Baby’
Reflecting on her childhood, the singer says she considers herself lucky that the internet didn’t consume her childhood as it does for many kids today. “I wasn’t an iPad baby, thank god – but honestly, I feel like I grew up in the perfect time of the internet that it wasn’t so internet-y; I had such a childhood, and I was doing stuff all the time,” she explained.
“During my childhood, there weren’t any iPhones. Still, as I got older, they were introduced along with all the other technological advancements that followed. Growing up on the internet during my pre-teen and teenage years, I felt like I belonged. It was where I found my people,” shared the seven-time Grammy winner.
Billie Eilish Reveals She’s Uncomfortable Looking At Old Photos Of Herself
The “No Time To Die” singer mentioned on the podcast that she shut down her social media apps because she was uncomfortable looking at pictures of herself. She has spoken out against cyberbullying and body-shaming, contributing to her decision to take a step back from social media.
The “Ocean Eyes” singer shared her fears about the internet, saying that as someone who frequents the platforms, the thought of stumbling upon videos and content that center around her, regardless of whether or not they are accurate, is somewhat uncomfortable.
Eilish also opened up about her concerns about how she is easily influenced by the information online. For the singer, It’s a constant battle to remain vigilant and to fact-check everything she encounters, especially given the abundance of online misinformation. “Anything I read on the internet, I believe. Me. I know for a fact that’s stupid, and I shouldn’t do that because I have proof it’s not all true; almost none of it’s true,” she said.
Billie Eilish Calls Out Online Trolls
Eilish has been a target of online bullying and body shaming and has bravely spoken out against online trolls. In 2020, she fought back against her detractors by releasing a raw and vulnerable short film of her song “Not My Responsibility” on YouTube. In the video, she stripped down and addressed the hurtful comments that had been made about her body and appearance, emphasizing that they were not her responsibility.
In a previous Calvin Klein ad from 2019, the singer expressed her desire for privacy and anonymity. She stated that she didn’t want the world to know everything about her, highlighting the importance of maintaining control over her own narrative.
The “Therefore I Am” singer divulged that she wore big baggy clothes at the time to avoid scrutiny surrounding her body. Eilish explained that her choice to wear big, baggy clothes is rooted in the desire to prevent unsolicited opinions and judgments about her appearance. “Nobody can be like, ‘oh, she’s slim-thick, she’s not slim-thick, she got a flat a**, she got a fat a**.’ Nobody can say anything because they don’t know,” she said.”
