01of 26Tom HollandLate Night with Seth MeyersWhat went down:In August of 2022, theSpider-Man: No Way Homestarannounced in an Instagram videothat he’s going on a social media hiatus in order to focus on his mental health.“I have taken a break from social media for my mental health because I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming,” he explained. “I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online. And ultimately, it’s very detrimental to my mental state so I decided to take a step back and delete the app.“Holland added that with his announcement, he wanted to shed light onStem4, a U.K.-based teen mental health charity that he sponsors. The charity provides mental health educational tools such as apps, conferences, and other resources.How long it lasted:So far, so quiet.
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Tom Holland
Late Night with Seth Meyers
What went down:In August of 2022, theSpider-Man: No Way Homestarannounced in an Instagram videothat he’s going on a social media hiatus in order to focus on his mental health.
“I have taken a break from social media for my mental health because I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming,” he explained. “I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online. And ultimately, it’s very detrimental to my mental state so I decided to take a step back and delete the app.”
Holland added that with his announcement, he wanted to shed light onStem4, a U.K.-based teen mental health charity that he sponsors. The charity provides mental health educational tools such as apps, conferences, and other resources.
How long it lasted:So far, so quiet.
02of 26Selena GomezSelena Gomez.AFF-USA/ShutterstockWhat went down:Another star who has been on and off social media in recent years,Gomez toldGood Morning Americain April 2022 that she hasn’t “been on the internet in four and a half years. It has changed my life completely. I am happier, I am more present, I connect more with people. It makes me feel normal,” she shared.How long it lasted:She has remained active onInstagram, especially withOnly Murders in the Buildingtaking off, and is earning quite a following on TikTok. Her Twitter appears reserved for promoting her work, including Rare Beauty, only.
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Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez.AFF-USA/Shutterstock
What went down:Another star who has been on and off social media in recent years,Gomez toldGood Morning Americain April 2022 that she hasn’t “been on the internet in four and a half years. It has changed my life completely. I am happier, I am more present, I connect more with people. It makes me feel normal,” she shared.
How long it lasted:She has remained active onInstagram, especially withOnly Murders in the Buildingtaking off, and is earning quite a following on TikTok. Her Twitter appears reserved for promoting her work, including Rare Beauty, only.
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Charley Gallay/Getty Images
What went down:The two-time Olympic gymnastannouncedonInstagramin August 2022 that she’s going on a social media hiatus in order to “heal” from the things that she says have been taking a toll on her mental health.
“My life has never been smooth or easy. I have carried a heavy weight on my back for quite some time and it has weighed me down, physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Douglas said. “So many things and people have tried to crush and break me.”
How long it lasted:The break is still on
04of 26Constance WuConstance Wu.Steve Granitz/WireImageWhat went down:Returning to social media for the first time in three years in July 2022,Wu shared a lengthy statementthat addressed what happened during her time away from social media. The actress revealed that she had attempted suicide following the backlash she received from her tweets aboutFresh Off the Boat.She shared, “I felt awful about what I’d said, and when a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I’d become a blight on the Asian American community, I started feeling like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to AsAms, and they’d be better off without me.““Looking back,” wrote Wu, “it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened. Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the ER.“How long it lasted:Three years; her July 2022 story marked her return to platforms. She’s reserved Instagram and Twitter for promoting her work.
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Constance Wu
Constance Wu.Steve Granitz/WireImage
What went down:Returning to social media for the first time in three years in July 2022,Wu shared a lengthy statementthat addressed what happened during her time away from social media. The actress revealed that she had attempted suicide following the backlash she received from her tweets aboutFresh Off the Boat.
She shared, “I felt awful about what I’d said, and when a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I’d become a blight on the Asian American community, I started feeling like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore. That I was a disgrace to AsAms, and they’d be better off without me.”
“Looking back,” wrote Wu, “it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened. Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the ER.”
How long it lasted:Three years; her July 2022 story marked her return to platforms. She’s reserved Instagram and Twitter for promoting her work.
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Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande.Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
What went down:The “Positions” singerdeactivated her Twitteron Dec. 24, 2021. While she didn’t comment on the decision, fans were quick to take notice and speculate about if she’s taking a break, prepping a blank slate for a new project, or simply leaving the platform for good.
How long it lasted:We’ll have to wait and see!
06of 26Chrissy TeigenChrissy Teigen.JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via GettyWhat went down:The longstanding Mayor of Twitter resigned in March 2021 — for a time, at least. Teigen, who has briefly left the app on a few occasions over the years — including a hiatus in the fall of 2020 after suffering a pregnancy loss, and a break in October 2014 following death threats — seeminglyrenounced the platform for good.On March 24, the cookbook author described the decision to deactivate her Twitter with her trademark candor, explaining that Twitter “no longer serves me as positively as it serves me negatively, and I think that’s the right time to call something.” She continued, “My life goal is to make people happy. The pain I feel when I don’t is too much for me. I’ve always been portrayed as the strong clap back girl but I’m just not.” She went on to express appreciation for her followers and the community they’d built over the years, for better and for worse.How long it lasted:Chrissy returned to the platform a few weeks later on April 16, tweeting, “turns out it feels TERRIBLE to silence yourself and also no longer enjoy belly chuckles randomly throughout the day and also lose like 2000 friends at once lol.”
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Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen.JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty
What went down:The longstanding Mayor of Twitter resigned in March 2021 — for a time, at least. Teigen, who has briefly left the app on a few occasions over the years — including a hiatus in the fall of 2020 after suffering a pregnancy loss, and a break in October 2014 following death threats — seeminglyrenounced the platform for good.
On March 24, the cookbook author described the decision to deactivate her Twitter with her trademark candor, explaining that Twitter “no longer serves me as positively as it serves me negatively, and I think that’s the right time to call something.” She continued, “My life goal is to make people happy. The pain I feel when I don’t is too much for me. I’ve always been portrayed as the strong clap back girl but I’m just not.” She went on to express appreciation for her followers and the community they’d built over the years, for better and for worse.
How long it lasted:Chrissy returned to the platform a few weeks later on April 16, tweeting, “turns out it feels TERRIBLE to silence yourself and also no longer enjoy belly chuckles randomly throughout the day and also lose like 2000 friends at once lol.”
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Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin.Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic
How long it lasted:The actor eventually reactivated his account, but has since switched it to private.
08of 26LordeLorde.Steve Granitz/GettyWhat went down:The “Royals” singer opened up in a conversation with palCazzie DavidforInterviewmagazine about why she stepped away from social media a few years ago.“Part of what made me peace out on social media, apart from feeling like I was losing my free will, was the massive amounts of stress I was feeling about our planet, about systemic racism, and about police brutality in this country,” she said.She elaborated to James Corden in August 2021, saying, “I just want to be as connected as possible, and I’m trying to do that without relying on a ton of screens.“How long it lasted:Aside from a small, sporadic handful of posts — like urging fans to vote and promoting her 2021 album,Solar Power— Lorde has remained mostly absent from social media since mid-2018.
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Lorde
Lorde.Steve Granitz/Getty
What went down:The “Royals” singer opened up in a conversation with palCazzie DavidforInterviewmagazine about why she stepped away from social media a few years ago.
“Part of what made me peace out on social media, apart from feeling like I was losing my free will, was the massive amounts of stress I was feeling about our planet, about systemic racism, and about police brutality in this country,” she said.
She elaborated to James Corden in August 2021, saying, “I just want to be as connected as possible, and I’m trying to do that without relying on a ton of screens.”
How long it lasted:Aside from a small, sporadic handful of posts — like urging fans to vote and promoting her 2021 album,Solar Power— Lorde has remained mostly absent from social media since mid-2018.
09of 26LizzoLizzo.Frazer Harrison/GettyWhat went down:The singer haszero time to entertain any more Twitter trolls. On Jan 5, 2020, Lizzotweeted, “Yeah I can’t do this Twitter s— no more.. too many trolls…” She then further explained her departure during an Instagram Live session shortly before her concert at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, saying, “I just want to say that I, you know, I just took a DNA test and it turns out I quit Twitter. I quit Twitter. I’m off it. All social media is not created equal.““I would love to be on Twitter ‘cause I could connect with you people who positively support me… not to mention spreading my own positive messages,” she continued. “But now I’ve gotten to a point where I’m not just dealing with Internet bullies, I’m dealing with seeing a lot of negativity on the Internet dealing with everyone.“How long it lasted:After writing that she will return “when I feel like it,” Lizzo has slowly returned to the platform after previously handing the account over to her management.
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Lizzo
Lizzo.Frazer Harrison/Getty
What went down:The singer haszero time to entertain any more Twitter trolls. On Jan 5, 2020, Lizzotweeted, “Yeah I can’t do this Twitter s— no more.. too many trolls…” She then further explained her departure during an Instagram Live session shortly before her concert at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, saying, “I just want to say that I, you know, I just took a DNA test and it turns out I quit Twitter. I quit Twitter. I’m off it. All social media is not created equal.”
“I would love to be on Twitter ‘cause I could connect with you people who positively support me… not to mention spreading my own positive messages,” she continued. “But now I’ve gotten to a point where I’m not just dealing with Internet bullies, I’m dealing with seeing a lot of negativity on the Internet dealing with everyone.”
How long it lasted:After writing that she will return “when I feel like it,” Lizzo has slowly returned to the platform after previously handing the account over to her management.
10of 26Ed SheeranGerardo Mora/GettyWhat went down:And he’s off! The singer announced in December of 2019 that he’d once againbe taking a breakfrom social media (he announced his first break in December of 2015, and laterquit Twitterin July of 2017).He explained his decision in a note on Instagram, writing he was “just gonna take a breather to travel, write and read.” The “Shape of You” singer added that he’ll return “with some new music when the time is right and I’ve lived a little more to actually have something to write about.“How long it lasted:Sheeran has been on-and-off of social media since initially swearing off of it in 2015. He’s returned to Instagram after a years-long hiatus.
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Ed Sheeran
Gerardo Mora/Getty
What went down:And he’s off! The singer announced in December of 2019 that he’d once againbe taking a breakfrom social media (he announced his first break in December of 2015, and laterquit Twitterin July of 2017).
He explained his decision in a note on Instagram, writing he was “just gonna take a breather to travel, write and read.” The “Shape of You” singer added that he’ll return “with some new music when the time is right and I’ve lived a little more to actually have something to write about.”
How long it lasted:Sheeran has been on-and-off of social media since initially swearing off of it in 2015. He’s returned to Instagram after a years-long hiatus.
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Cardi B
Cardi B.Michael Kovac/Getty Images
This isn’t the first time Cardi’s deleted her Instagram after getting the last word: The “I Like It” singerbriefly deactivated her account in May 2018, after getting in a heated online argument with fellow rapper Azealia Banks.
How long it lasted:Two days; on Feb. 13she wrote she was “back from retirement"to announce a new song with Bruno Mars. She’s continued to have a love-hate relationship with social media since.
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Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/Getty
What went down:According toEntertainmentWeekly, Rose’scasting as The CW’s Batwomanwas met with backlash online in August 2018. People opined that Rose, whoidentifies as gender fluid, is not right for the part of the first openly gay superhero at the helm of a television show.
13of 26Pete DavidsonCindy Ord/MG21/Getty ImagesWhat went down:In December 2018, Davidson deleted his Instagram after posting an alarming message. “I really don’t want to be on this earth anymore. I’m doing my best to stay here for you but i actually don’t know how much longer i can last,” theSaturday Night Livestar wrote. “All i’ve ever tried to do was help people. Just remember i told you so,” he continued, adding a single red heart emoji.Machine Gun Kelly, a friend of Davidson’s, as well as ex-fiancéAriana Grandewent to check on the comedian, who was quickly accounted forat theSaturday Night Livestudio.Davidson hadpreviously wiped the photos off his accountin July 2018, explaining in part, “No there’s nothing wrong … I just don’t wanna be on Instagram anymore. Or on any social media platform,” he wrote. “The internet is an evil place and it doesn’t make me feel good … I love you all and I’m sure I’ll be back at some point. your neighborhood goon, Pete.“How long it lasted:Davidson has yet to return to Instagram.
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Pete Davidson
Cindy Ord/MG21/Getty Images
What went down:In December 2018, Davidson deleted his Instagram after posting an alarming message. “I really don’t want to be on this earth anymore. I’m doing my best to stay here for you but i actually don’t know how much longer i can last,” theSaturday Night Livestar wrote. “All i’ve ever tried to do was help people. Just remember i told you so,” he continued, adding a single red heart emoji.
Machine Gun Kelly, a friend of Davidson’s, as well as ex-fiancéAriana Grandewent to check on the comedian, who was quickly accounted forat theSaturday Night Livestudio.
Davidson hadpreviously wiped the photos off his accountin July 2018, explaining in part, “No there’s nothing wrong … I just don’t wanna be on Instagram anymore. Or on any social media platform,” he wrote. “The internet is an evil place and it doesn’t make me feel good … I love you all and I’m sure I’ll be back at some point. your neighborhood goon, Pete.”
How long it lasted:Davidson has yet to return to Instagram.
14of 26Kelly Marie TranEric Charbonneau/LeStudioWhat went down:When fans decided they didn’t like herStar Wars: The Last Jedicharacter, Rose, they made it known, posting particularly hateful messages on the actress’s Instagram photos. It was so bad costarMark Hamill came to her defense, andshe opened up about itin an August 2018 op-ed for theNew York Times.How long it lasted:Tran’s Instagram accountstill exists, but is wiped of all her posts.
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Kelly Marie Tran
Eric Charbonneau/LeStudio
What went down:When fans decided they didn’t like herStar Wars: The Last Jedicharacter, Rose, they made it known, posting particularly hateful messages on the actress’s Instagram photos. It was so bad costarMark Hamill came to her defense, andshe opened up about itin an August 2018 op-ed for theNew York Times.
How long it lasted:Tran’s Instagram accountstill exists, but is wiped of all her posts.
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What went down:TheStranger Thingsactressquit Twitter in June 2018— which also happens to be Pride Month — after Twitter users began attacking the star with a homophobic meme seemingly attributed to her. Millie has previouslyshown her supportfor the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
How long it lasted:The actress teased fans with a brief reappearance in January 2019,tweeting, “hi. i missed u.” She hasn’t posted there since, but does use Instagram now and then.
16of 26Cheryl BurkeDonato Sardella/Getty Images for Brooks BrothersWhat went down:TheDancing with the Starspro announced in March 2018 that she is"dealing with some personal things right now"and would be stepping away from social media for an indefinite period of time. “I’m dealing with some personal things right now and need to take a break from social media,” wrote Burke.How long it lasted:At the end of March 2018, Burke explained her absence with an Instagram postmourning her father; she’s now fully returned to her platforms.
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Cheryl Burke
Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Brooks Brothers
What went down:TheDancing with the Starspro announced in March 2018 that she is"dealing with some personal things right now"and would be stepping away from social media for an indefinite period of time. “I’m dealing with some personal things right now and need to take a break from social media,” wrote Burke.
How long it lasted:At the end of March 2018, Burke explained her absence with an Instagram postmourning her father; she’s now fully returned to her platforms.
17of 26Amber RoseEric McCandless/ABC via Getty ImagesWhat went down:In November 2016,Rose posted on Instagram that she’d be taking time off from social mediafor the month of December. “Hey guys, I just want to let everyone know that I’m taking the rest of the year off of social media,” Rose stated in a makeup-free video (accessorizing with the Snapchat flower crown filter, no less). “So I’ll have Joe, my assistant, post some cool stuff for me, and I’ll see you in the new year.“How long it lasted:Rose said the social media hiatus would last one month but in reality it lasted two weeks.
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Amber Rose
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images
What went down:In November 2016,Rose posted on Instagram that she’d be taking time off from social mediafor the month of December. “Hey guys, I just want to let everyone know that I’m taking the rest of the year off of social media,” Rose stated in a makeup-free video (accessorizing with the Snapchat flower crown filter, no less). “So I’ll have Joe, my assistant, post some cool stuff for me, and I’ll see you in the new year.”
How long it lasted:Rose said the social media hiatus would last one month but in reality it lasted two weeks.
18of 26
Kendall Jenner
19of 26Justin BieberAKM-GSIWhat went down:Days after Bieber threatened to make his Instagram private if his fans didn’t stop sending hate toward his new flame (at the time), 18-year-old Sofia Richie, he stayed true to his word andshut down his account. It probably didn’t help that his exSelena Gomezcommented this on a photo of him with Richie: “If you can’t handle the hate, then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol - It should be special between you two only. Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you and supported you before any one did.“How long it lasted:Bieber deactivated on Aug. 16, 2016, but returned soon after, sharing pics from his tour as well as throwback snapshots.
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Justin Bieber
AKM-GSI
What went down:Days after Bieber threatened to make his Instagram private if his fans didn’t stop sending hate toward his new flame (at the time), 18-year-old Sofia Richie, he stayed true to his word andshut down his account. It probably didn’t help that his exSelena Gomezcommented this on a photo of him with Richie: “If you can’t handle the hate, then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend lol - It should be special between you two only. Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you and supported you before any one did.”
How long it lasted:Bieber deactivated on Aug. 16, 2016, but returned soon after, sharing pics from his tour as well as throwback snapshots.
20of 26Normani KordeiNormani.Kevin Mazur/WireImageWhat went down:The “Motivation” singer was the recipient of nasty fan ire after she seemed to snub then-Fifth Harmony bandmateCamila Cabello. (When asked to say something nice about everyone in the group for a Facebook Live interview, Kordei seemed to stall at Cabello, saying: “She is … let’s see. Camila. Very quirky. Yeah. Very quirky. Cute.") The online abuse - which included racist photos and insults - got so bad that Kordei announced she’d be leaving Twitter, writing in a note: “I have shown nothing but commitment for the success of Fifth Harmony even promoting on my days off but yet I always find myself as the target of unjust hate and slander.“How long it lasted:Her Twitter hiatus, which she announced on Aug. 8, 2016, wasn’t permanent - she started tweeting again that September to stand up against cyberbullies.
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Normani Kordei
Normani.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
What went down:The “Motivation” singer was the recipient of nasty fan ire after she seemed to snub then-Fifth Harmony bandmateCamila Cabello. (When asked to say something nice about everyone in the group for a Facebook Live interview, Kordei seemed to stall at Cabello, saying: “She is … let’s see. Camila. Very quirky. Yeah. Very quirky. Cute.") The online abuse - which included racist photos and insults - got so bad that Kordei announced she’d be leaving Twitter, writing in a note: “I have shown nothing but commitment for the success of Fifth Harmony even promoting on my days off but yet I always find myself as the target of unjust hate and slander.”
How long it lasted:Her Twitter hiatus, which she announced on Aug. 8, 2016, wasn’t permanent - she started tweeting again that September to stand up against cyberbullies.
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Daisy Ridley
Disney/Image Group LA/Getty
What went down:TheStar Wars: The Force Awakensactress quietly left Instagram in August 2016, after receiving a barrage of criticism for sharing an anti-gun violence post on her Instagram and Facebook pages. The message, which was posted two days prior, reflected on the call to action that was made to stop gun violence at the Teen Choice Awards, which Ridley attended. “As I sat in the audience yesterday tears were streaming down my face at the tribute to those that have been lost to gun violence,” she wrote. “I didn’t get a great picture of the incredible group that came onstage but they were so brave. It was a true moment of togetherness. We must #stoptheviolence.”
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Leslie Jones
Todd Williamson/Getty
How long it lasted:Three days - and we’re so glad she’s back. “Welp … a bitch thought she could stay away. But who else is gonna live tweet Game of Thrones!!” she tweeted.
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Iggy Azalea
Mike Coppola/Getty
How long it lasted:Just a few months, after which she returned with updates about her dog.
24of 26RihannaKevin Mazur/GettyWhat went down:In early 2014, the unthinkable happened: Rihanna quit Instagram entirely, leaving her handle - @badgalRiRi - disabled. Apparently, this was an accidenton the part of Instagram, but then again, she didn’t immediately get it restored.How long it lasted:She returned six months later, praise the Lord. (Nov. 1, 2014, will forever be known as the historic day of The Rihturn.)
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Rihanna
Kevin Mazur/Getty
What went down:In early 2014, the unthinkable happened: Rihanna quit Instagram entirely, leaving her handle - @badgalRiRi - disabled. Apparently, this was an accidenton the part of Instagram, but then again, she didn’t immediately get it restored.
How long it lasted:She returned six months later, praise the Lord. (Nov. 1, 2014, will forever be known as the historic day of The Rihturn.)
25of 26Lena DunhamJason Merritt/GettyWhat went down:In September of 2015, Dunham announced that she had hired someone to tweet on her behalf so as to avoid “verbal violence.” “I really appreciate that anybody follows me at all, and so I didn’t want to cut off my relationship to it completely, but it really, truly wasn’t a safe space for me,“she said. TheGirlsstar continued to be very active on Instagram.How long it lasted:Hard to tell, because it seemed like tweets were still in her voice! Maybe the person she hired was tweeting exactly what Dunham told him or her to, likethis one: “I used to be attracted to damaged men. Now I am attracted to damaged dogs.”
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Lena Dunham
Jason Merritt/Getty
What went down:In September of 2015, Dunham announced that she had hired someone to tweet on her behalf so as to avoid “verbal violence.” “I really appreciate that anybody follows me at all, and so I didn’t want to cut off my relationship to it completely, but it really, truly wasn’t a safe space for me,“she said. TheGirlsstar continued to be very active on Instagram.
How long it lasted:Hard to tell, because it seemed like tweets were still in her voice! Maybe the person she hired was tweeting exactly what Dunham told him or her to, likethis one: “I used to be attracted to damaged men. Now I am attracted to damaged dogs.”
26of 26Taylor SwiftSplash News OnlineWhat went down:This may not have been a total social media black-out, per se, but Swift said “people might need a break” from her in October 2015, and posted significantly less on Instagram and Twitter.How long it lasted:Her posting frequency was at an all-time low, and then, before the release of her 2017 albumReputation, she deleted her entire Instagram feed, later posting teasers before making a real return to the platform later in the year.
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Taylor Swift
Splash News Online
What went down:This may not have been a total social media black-out, per se, but Swift said “people might need a break” from her in October 2015, and posted significantly less on Instagram and Twitter.
How long it lasted:Her posting frequency was at an all-time low, and then, before the release of her 2017 albumReputation, she deleted her entire Instagram feed, later posting teasers before making a real return to the platform later in the year.
source: people.com
