Sharon Cuneta’s realizations after social media detox
SOME celebrities choose to curate their social media profiles with the best shots of their work, travels and family life. then there are those who use the platform to reach to their fans and show a side of them that people may not know. sharon cuneta admits to be the latter until she realized that she has shared, and posted, too much.
Cuneta’s followers on Instagram are sure to find a piece of the “Megastar’s” mind — and oftentimes heart — on her account @reallysharoncuneta where she posts not just updates on her works and the advocacies she supports, but her personal life as well.
To be sure, in her decades-long career, Cuneta is known to be an open book. No question is too personal and she would be the last celebrity to give out a “showbiz” (i.e., safe) answers to avoid issues.
When she got her hands on social media, Cuneta was the same, and more.
Whereas other celebrities would pay little to no attention to criticisms written by bashers, she would personally reply to them using her public account.
“When people hurt me with their words, my tendency was to get mad back. But I regret that because as they say, hurt people hurt people. I should have been my old self that would rise above that and put certain people in their place like by the law as I used to before. Hindi yung halos lahat noon pinatulan ko (And not to pay attention to almost everyone),” Cuneta said in a group interview on the sidelines of InLife Sheroes event.
“These are people posting anonymously and they have a false sense of power so I’ve learned not to I engage with them,” the Insular Life ambassador said.
This realization came to Cuneta as she was forced to rest and disengage from showbiz commitments due to an injury to her hip.
The hardworking artist — whose 2023 was filled with her Metro Manila Film Festival return via the official entry “Family of Two;” and with the much awaited reunion concert with former on-screen and off-screen partner Gabby Concepcion — revealed she had to completely rest for two months.
Call it a blessing in disguise, the short break afforded her not just physical rest but a social media detox as well.
“I realized so many things about myself. Like, ‘oh my gosh why am I posting everything about my life?’
“[With social media], you get so used to it that you don’t think about it [posting] anymore. And you’ll be wondering, ‘I never used to do this, why am I doing it now? I was kind of knocked back to my senses and I’m very glad for that two months of rest that I had because of my hip. That’s all I got to do in that period — think.”
Instead of posting, reading comments and replying, Cuneta said her internet use were dedicated to watching YouTube videos featuring famous life coaches and financial experts like Tony Robbins and Richard Branson.
“I picked up a lot from them. I also watched a lot of Christian vlogs and they would fill me with a lot of inspiration.”
More mindful of her internet and social media use, Cuneta ended her reflection with these words: “I realized that I hurt people when I was hurt and actually I shouldn’t have. Why did I allow myself to be like them? I might have learned a bit too late but now I see all the mistakes I’ve made.”
Cuneta’s comeback project came at a perfect time as she joins the fifth anniversary celebration of InLife Sheroes, InLife’s flagship program for women empowerment.
It aims to reach out to the relatively untapped segment of the women in the Philippines, especially women entrepreneurs who need life and health protection as well as financial solutions to expand their businesses. InLife Sheroes’ four focus areas are financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions, and access to social and business networks.
Cuneta earlier launched a video series on her YouTube channel, with the first episode discussing the importance of choosing a healthier lifestyle and preparing for the financial impact of health emergencies.
Meanwhile, during the anniversary show held at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula, InLife also launched the InLife Sheroes Awards.
The awards program will honor Filipino women who embody the four pillars of InLife Sheroes: champions of financial education, advocates for physical and/ or mental health and wellness, accomplished women who work for the benefit of women and business leaders whose products and services address women’s needs.
Nominations should be accompanied by a 500-word write up on the nominee’s profile, explaining her advocacies and endeavors, and must be sent to inlifesheroes@ insular.com.ph until August 15.