Why Selena Gomez Deletes Instagram App From Her Phone Once A Week

While promoting her upcoming Netflix TV show “13 Reasons Why,” Selena Gomez has admitted that she often deletes the Instagram app from her phone. Gomez, who has the most followers on the photo-sharing site, said she knows that it’s never easy to be so popular.

In an interview with New York Times, Gomez was asked if she still reads the comments on her Instagram feed. The “It Ain’t Me” singer, is currently the most followed celebrity on Instagram with over 114 million followers, said the negativity gets too much sometimes that she is forced to delete the app.

“You can’t avoid it sometimes. I delete the app from my phone at least once a week,” Gomez said with a brittle laugh. “You fixate on the [negative] ones. They’re not like ‘You’re ugly.’ It’s like they want to cut your soul. Imagine all the insecurities that you already feel about yourself and having someone write a paragraph pointing out every little thing – even if it’s just physical.”

READ: Selena Gomez donates money for lupus research

The “Hands to Myself” singer is aware of the joys and agony of being the most popular celebrity on Instagram. On Aug. 15 of last year, Justin Bieber’s ex shared a photo of her body collapsed on the stage and bathed in light. The post garnered a million comments from her fans. However, it took her over three months to find the motivation to post an update following this, Vogue reported.

After posting the photo, Gomez flew to Tennessee and surrendered her cellphone to her assistant. She joined a therapy program, where she stayed for 90 days to treat the complications of her lupus. Gomez made her first post-treatment appearance at the 2016 American Music Awards in November 2016, when she received the trophy for favorite pop/rock female artist and gave a tearful speech about her personal struggles that went viral immediately.

Gomez admitted that being the most followed person on Instagram is addicting. “As soon as I became the most followed person on Instagram, I sort of freaked out,” said the “Kill Em With Kindness” songstress. “It had become so consuming to me. It’s what I woke up to and went to sleep to. I was an addict, and it felt like I was seeing things I didn’t want to see.”

In February, Gomez thanked her fans for their support when her Instagram followers reached 110 million. The photo featured the “Same Old Love” singer in front of a stadium of cheering fans. “Thank you fam for 110. I promise I will continue to cherish my platform and speaking truth but more importantly, each and every one of you have changed my life. I'm very grateful,” Gomez captioned the post.