Kathyrn Hahn has appeared in world-renowned movies and television shows for over 2 decades. She’s most known for her roles in films such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Anchorman, Step Brothers, Bad Moms and This is Where I Leave You. More recently, she’s starred in Tiny Beautiful Things (2023) and Agatha All Along (2024).

But in 2021, Hahn made headlines for something beyond her impressive roles. The actress opened up about her mental health priorities. Specifically, Kathryn Hahn’s social media presence (or lack thereof) was mentioned as one of the many ways she protects her mental health.

Kathryn Hahn and Social Media Don’t Mix

Kathryn Hahn doesn’t have social media. It’s as simple as that. And she never seems to waver on the decision. When asked if she believes she’s more present because she doesn’t have social media accounts, Hahn said, “I think so. … I don’t feel the need to take a picture of anything, post anything or share anything. I certainly lurk around, and I am curious what other people are talking about, but I don’t have access to anybody else’s stuff. So I read the news, and I stay informed, for sure. And I have my sites that I regularly like to go to, but I don’t feel those urges to share myself.”

So what does Kathryn Hahn do to support her mental health? Meditation and stretching are vital parts of her self-care routine. “I do love meditating, and I love stretching,” she shared. “I think for mental health, stretching has been really important.”

Celebrities and Social Media

Most celebrities, including A-list stars, maintain social media profiles today for a host of reasons.

• It allows them to stay relevant and in front of their fans at all times.
• It helps them connect with their fans.
• It gives them a platform to promote and pitch their projects (recent shows, movies) or products (clothing, makeup and alcohol brands).
• It enables them to take on brand sponsorships and make additional money.
• It helps them spread messages that are important to them and their brand.
• It gives them a way to develop a brand.
• It provides them with a way to respond to backlash, false rumors and misconceptions.

Yet, despite these benefits, celebrities have recently stepped away from social media. Kathyrn Hahn isn’t the only one who sees the downsides of being online and accessible to all. For example, in August 2022, Tom Holland shared he was quitting social media, stating, “I have taken a break from social media for my mental health because I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming. I get caught up, and I spiral when I read things about me online. And ultimately, it’s very detrimental to my mental state, so I decided to take a step back and delete the app.”

Whether they stay away for good or take a break, celebrities including Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, Lizzo and Lorde have all stepped away from social media, citing mental health concerns.

Social media can impact celebrities significantly because they have so many followers. This means they’re exposed to hateful and judgmental comments from potentially thousands of people. Everything they do is scrutinized and commented on. It’s a lot of pressure that can affect even the strongest, most confident person.

Social Media and Mental Health

Most people understand, to some degree, that social media platforms take a negative toll on a person’s mental health. These platforms are created to be addictive so users spend as much time as possible engaging with them. The average American spends almost 2.5 hours on social media per day.

Unfortunately, this consumption comes at a price. Social media usage is linked to anxiety, depression, loneliness and poor self-esteem.

Some social media statistics are concerning. In one survey, 50% of respondents said excessive social media use has had adverse effects on their mental health, 24% feel anxious when they can’t access their social media accounts and 23% feel pressured to maintain a certain image on social media. A 2023 meta-analysis of 50 studies found a link between exposure to social media and an increased risk of eating disorders in young people. A study on American youth found those who spent more than 3 hours daily on social media had double the risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

The Power of Digital Detox

Everyone probably should follow Kathyrn Hahn’s path and take a permanent digital detox. However, for the average person, social media provides some benefits, too, which makes letting go of it difficult. Social media can help long-distance friends stay connected, give users ideas for things to do in their area and help them find a community when they’re going through a challenging time.

The key to social media is balance.

If you notice your social media usage is increasing and it’s impacting your mental health, a digital detox might be best. You don’t necessarily have to quit social media entirely; instead, you can just take a break. With a digital detox, you delete all social media apps from your devices so you’re not tempted to doom scroll. Set a goal of staying “dark” from social media for a specific period, and try to meet that goal.

When you decide to rejoin social media, try to set boundaries for yourself. Give yourself a daily time limit for social media. Remember that beyond that time limit, you’re just distracting from yourself living in the present moment.

If the mental health impacts from your social media are feeling overwhelming or intense, a digital detox isn’t enough. At this point, it’s best to talk to a mental health professional. Social media may have triggered the condition, but you can’t be sure other factors aren’t at play. And you can’t necessarily turn back time simply by stepping away from social media.

Talking to a therapist can help you receive a diagnosis, get some clarity into your symptoms and learn healthy coping mechanisms so you can get back to your healthy old self.

Sunlight Recovery Offers Mental Health Support

Mental health support starts with you reaching out and asking for help. Sunlight Recovery provides a compassionate and healing environment so you can get the support you need. Your care plan is tailored to your exact needs, so you can feel confident about your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more.