‘Star Wars’ lead actress warns social media is bad for mental health

CAIRO – 7 December 2017: English actress Daisy Ridley, who portrays Rey in the new “Star Wars” trilogy, has openly discussed her skepticism of social media following the shutdown of her Instagram account due to online harassment.

Speaking with Radio Times, Ridley said that she had left social media for the sake of her mental health, having quit last September and feeling no need to return.

According to the BBC, she also stated:

“The more I read about teenage anxiety, the more I think it's highly unhealthy for people's mental health. It's such a weird thing for young people to look at distorted images of things they should be."

Ridley had attracted the anger of some users after being accused of hypocrisy for condemning gun violence in her Instagram account, despite the fact that her “Star Wars” character used a fictional blaster gun. Though she had been acting for some time, Ridley achieved massive international attention and acclaim following her casting as the lead of the newest installment for the wildly popular sci-fi franchise.

In her interview, Ridley remarked that her life changed considerably since then.

"I'm definitely recognized more, but I find the whole taking pictures thing weird. I'd prefer to have a conversation than someone asking for a picture, but I guess people feel the need to prove they've had the interaction through social media.”

Ridley’s upcoming film “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” will be released on December 15 in the USA.