Socialmediahasbeenreally terribleformygeneration ..itscaresmehowexposed youngboysandgirlsare
The singer and actress grew up in the spotlight and had setbacks in both relationships and health – but is now concerned about the welfare of others
BY HILARY MORGAN AND MARIA CROCE understand why people are obsessed with something that hurts you.”
Many young people face cruel criticism when they share photos of themselves online. So Selena surely isn’t the only one waking up to the potential dangers of social media, especially for those who take comments to heart.
For others, social media is treated as a source of fun if not taken too seriously.
Singer Lewis Capaldi, who has 639,000 followers on Twitter, delights his following with selfdeprecating humour and his ability to bat away criticism with laughs. including during his online spat with Noel Gallagher. Selena, meanwhile, feels it’s important for her to speak out about issues she feels strongly about.
“I have done this for so long, that it’s just who I am. This is how I speak and what I believe in,” she said.
The star has no regrets about her early rise to fame, saying: “I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I like that I have had a few things I have gone through.
“It makes me human. It makes me a better person. I like that I am a role model to younger kids but there is no such thing as perfect.
“I’m not saying that I have everything figured out but I know that I’m special. I just get up every day and I am so grateful to be alive.
“I’m so grateful to God that I am even breathing after some of the stuff I have been through. That is the coolest feeling in the world.” Selena suffered the heartache of an on-off relationship with pop star Justin Bieber for several years.
After they split last year, he had a whirlwind romance that led to marriage with model Hailey Baldwin within months. elena has also had health problems. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2015 and took a career break to deal with anxiety, panic attacks and depression related to her battle with the disease.
In 2017, she revealed via Instagram that she’d had a kidney transplant linked to her lupus and her friend Francia Raisa had donated the organ.
But she has bounced back, working on movies and music.
The Dead Don’t Die has been written and directed by Jim Jarmusch and its ensemble cast includes Adam Driver and Bill Murray. It follows a small town’s police force as they combat a sudden zombie invasion. And Selena had a lot of fun filming it.
“It was such a blast to work with such an amazing cast and crew and see everyone at the top of their game and let loose – especially Murray.
“He was hysterical and so much fun. I’m obsessed with horror films. Growing up, my dad used to let me watch them just to scare me so he could laugh but eventually I became obsessed.
“I love The Walking Dead and this Netflix series called Black Summer. So I am obsessed with zombies for sure.”
She has also been working on a new album. She said: “It’s done and it’s going really good.
“I’m just nervous about it because I feel like the next few choices that I am going to make are very crucial.
“I am trying to be really, really diligent and patient.”
It’s not surprising her busy life is sometimes a juggling act. She admits she would love to travel more if she had the chance not to be recognised. “I would love to go sightseeing and walk around certain places,” Selena said. “I love feeling like a tourist.
“Sometimes I like feeling like I can walk around and see all of the cool places, then it’s like you are in a fish bowl.
“I want to explore the world because I have been everywhere but I have seen absolutely nothing. I would love to walk around, get lost and see all different parts of the world.”
SELENA GOMEZ