Model and social media personality Hailey Bieber has recently launched her YouTube channel with videos that feature her with famous pals like Kendall Jenner, and others that showcase her style and skincare routine.
Last week, however, the Calvin Klein model decided to tackle an issue not commonly seen in celebrity YouTube videos — mental health. She sat down to interview psychiatrist Dr. Jessica Clemons via video call about social media, online bullying, and what we can do to make it better.
Here’s the rundown:
On social media and online bullying
The pair kicked off the conversation by acknowledging how widespread social media has become. Clemons had mentioned that while social media has given the people the capacity to connect on different levels, studies have shown that social media has led to many young people developing depressive symptoms, sleep disruption, and body image issues.
Bieber herself had narrated the various issues she encountered when dealing with social media and online bullying. “After getting married especially, it really opened me up to this new kind of level of attention,” Bieber stated. “One of the biggest things I struggled with was the comparison aspect — body comparison, looks comparison, behavior comparison.”
“It got to such a low point to me that I was like, ‘Honestly, maybe I’m delusional’,” she admitted.
On the Internet
The Internet, according to Bieber, has made it harder to distinguish between reality and what’s on social media. For Clemons, the sentiment is a common one among celebrities.
“What gets in the way is that lack of seeing the person that’s going to read this message,” said Clemons. “I think that disconnect is also what makes people act on that impulse to say something rude.”
Both Bieber and Clemons agreed that many people forget that there is an actual human behind the screen and that these people carry the same emotions as everybody else. They also mentioned that it can be easy to project feelings onto a celebrity, because they seem easily accessible, but it does not make it right.
On ways to cope
In the nearly 9-minute video, Bieber had given plenty of tips on how to cope with the pressure of social media. She stated that she tries to keep off Instagram from Monday to Friday and has deactivated Twitter, an online space she feels is “toxic”; she also turned off the comments on her IG page and limited it to people she exclusively followers, to ensure a “positive” environment.
Therapy, as per Bieber, is also very helpful.
Clemons also suggested that while social media can be a stressful place, it could also serve as an opportunity for people to find groups or communities where they can feel seen or heard.
The video has been positively received by viewers, with many others requesting more content that discusses similar relatable issues. For now, you can keep up to date with Mrs. Bieber’s videos on her YouTube channel here.
