‘It Changed My Life Completely’: How Internet Disconnection Improved Selena Gomez’ Personal Connections And Mental Wellbeing

‘It Changed My Life Completely’: How Internet Disconnection Improved Selena Gomez’ Personal Connections And Mental Wellbeing

Selena Gomez at the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards on March 13, 2022 in Los Angeles When Selena Gomez recently disclosed that she hadn't used the internet for over four years, I think it's safe to assume that her revelation caught most people by surprise. No internet for four years?? In today's digital-domineering world, most people probably couldn't go four hours without the internet, let alone four years... myself included. As somebody who owns two laptops, two phones and an iPad, I certainly put myself in the device-dependent category. Among the major social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok), Ms. Gomez has roughly 500 million followers (likely overlapping, non-unique followers), making the global superstar one of the most followed celebrities worldwide. While she helps her team curate her content, she doesn't post herself. As a physician who deals with patients' brain health by treating addiction and mental illness, I can relate to the former Disney star's motivation: improved mental health. In an interview with Good Morning America, the entrepreneur revealed, "I haven't been on the internet for four and a half years…and it has changed my life completely: I am happier, I am more present, I connect more with