Jenna Ortega opened up about what it's like to be someone – especially a young person – in the public eye on social media. The actress was in conversation with Elle Fanning for Variety when she started talking about the ways social media can be manipulative and toxic.
“It’s such a comparing game. It influences bandwagon mentality. It’s very manipulative. After the show, I’m really nervous to post or even say anything on there or even be myself because I feel like…” Ortega began.
She added that she tends to be sarcastic and often worries that people will misinterpret what she says. “And the more I’ve been exposed to the world, people prey on that and take advantage of that. They see your vulnerability and twist it in a way that you don’t always expect,” she went on.
At this point in the conversation, Ortega begins to tear up, quickly apologizing for it until Fanning assures her it's OK. “It’s such a hard thing to balance. Because how do you be honest without jeopardizing your own health and safety? It’s very easy to feel almost out of control,” Ortega said. She added that she wants to be authentic, and often resents the industry norms of having to always be smiling in front of a camera. “It just feels gross. And I don’t want to feel gross. I would rather people see me cry and do whatever than be something I’m not,” she concluded.
While this is obviously a very personal topic to Ortega, the negative impact of social media on young people is becoming more talked about than ever. In May, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued the first ever advisory on social media usage. In it, he lays out alarming stats about the impact it has on body image and mental health. And he encourages legislation to regulate the ways social platforms are used by young people.
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