Timothée Chalamet is ready for social media to cleanse. While filming for his upcoming role in Luca Guadagino’s “Bones and All” film, the actor got a taste of what it would be like to live in a world free from the pressures of online judgment. “To be young now, and to be young whenever – I can only speak for my generation – is to be intensely judged,” Chalamet told ET during a Venice Film Festival press conference on Sept. 2.
“I can’t imagine what it is to grow up without the onslaught of social media.”
“Bones and All,” based on the book by Camille DeAngelis, tells the story of two young cannibals, played by Chalamet and Taylor Russell, who fall in love during a road trip across the US in the ’80s. For Chalamet, the role was a breath of fresh air that allowed him to reconsider his mental well-being when it comes to social media. “I can’t imagine what it is to grow up without the onslaught of social media, and it was a relief to play characters who are wrestling with an internal dilemma absent the ability to go on Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok and figure out where they fit in,” he continued.
In a world where the almost-ubiquitous reliance on likes, shares, and comments can make being alive feel like a never-ending “Black Mirror” episode, Chalamet isn’t alone in feeling better after distancing himself from social media. Britney Spears, Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, and other celebrities have been vocal about their decisions to step back from online platforms to avoid constant scrutiny.
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Chalamet acknowledged that the internet can be a great place to create connections, but he added that it’s also important to give yourself time away from platforms where praise and judgment so often go hand in hand. “Without casting judgment on that, you can find your tribe there, but I think it’s tough to be alive now,” he said. “I think societal collapse is in the air – or it smells like it – and, without being pretentious, that’s why hopefully movies matter, because that’s the role of the artist . . . to shine a light on what’s going on.”
The actor most recently used his Twitter account to promote “Bones and All,” sharing trailers, art, and bone-related GIFs to celebrate the movie’s announcement. While Chalamet likely won’t be disappearing completely from social media any time soon, the star’s post-filming insights are a helpful reminder to unplug and unwind.
