Ariana Greenblatt Reveals Disney Told Her She “Needs Social Media”
Ariana Greenblatt recently opened up about her complicated relationship with social media in an interview with Cosmopolitan’s online issue.
The young actress, who got her start on the Disney Channel, revealed that she was actually told by Disney that she “needed social media” to succeed in her career.
“I technically got social media when I was 7, but I didn’t talk to the app. I didn’t control or look at it until I wanted to be perceived as cool, probably when I was 13,” Greenblatt said.
“I eventually hit a point where I thought, I don’t know if this is actually benefiting me. I deleted TikTok off my phone a week ago after having to wean myself off of it. Social media is a drug.”
She described the negative impact platforms like TikTok can have on her mental health. “I’ll see one thing about me, I’ll click the blue comment, and suddenly I’m scrolling through a feed of posts that are all negative. I’ll go from having a great day to seeing five videos and truly feeling sick to my stomach—the rest of the day is ruined. It’s crazy how one scroll can completely change my mood and even the physical state of my body,” she explained.
To cope, Greenblatt leans on her brother, Gavin, who reminds her that “This is not real.” At one point, she deactivated her main account and only used a private one to follow friends, but even that wasn’t completely safe from negative content.
Greenblatt also discussed the difference between TikTok and Instagram. “With TikTok, the negative comments go to the top, but I have to work a lot harder to find negative things on Instagram. I love posting on Instagram Stories. Creatively, I like creating stuff like that,” she said.
She admitted that social media has influenced how she sees herself as an actor. “I found myself caring so much about how I look because social media takes scenes I’ve acted in and edits them. That’s the last thing you need in acting, all the extra opinions. There’s a negative term online for absolutely everything. ‘Instagram Face’ is the latest I’ve seen,” she added.
Greenblatt’s experience is not unique. Other actors have shared that social media followings can now influence casting decisions.
Many casting directors and studios consider an actor’s follower count as part of their marketability, making social media an unexpected but important part of a performer’s career.
Ariana’s story highlights the pressures young actors face today. Social media can boost a career but also take a heavy toll on mental health. It’s interesting to see her honesty about the ups and downs of these platforms. What do you think about actors needing social media to succeed? Share your thoughts in the comments.
