Since Netflix released its Black Mirror interactive film special Bandersnatch last week, Will Poulter has been the centre of attention.
will poulter in black mirror breathe if you agree pic.twitter.com/1zIu64hO47
— chloe? (@Adoringsmithy) December 28, 2018
But being the centre of attention can come with its downsides, and so Poulter has announced that “in light of my recent experiences I am choosing to take a step back, of sorts, from Twitter.”
With love… pic.twitter.com/JSm7oNLTsV
— Will Poulter (@PoulterWill) January 2, 2019
“I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everybody who has watched Bandersnatch and for their responses (whatever they may be) to the material we created.” he said in his lengthy Twitter post. “I accept all criticisms and it’s been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked very hard to produce!”
“As we all know there is a balance to be struck in our engagements with social media. There are positives to enjoy and inevitable negatives that are best avoided. It’s a balance that I have struggled with for a while now and, in the interest of my mental health, I feel the time has come to change my relationship with social media.
“I don’t want to appear unappreciative of all the amazing support I have received online for which I am genuinely so grateful, nor do I want my disengagement with social media to be at the expense of any of the organisations I am lucky to work with. So I will still be posting occasionally for and with @AntiBullyingPro @leap_cc @MayMeasure and @bptcompany among others.”
He signed off by adding:
“This is not the end. Consider it an alternative path.”
It’s unclear exactly what prompted Poulter’s exit, as there is so much noise about him on the internet at the moment.
That ranges from the ever-present trolls who take aim at his appearance and a range of other shallow cruelties, to the wave of appreciation for Poulter that can be both wholesome and very, very thirsty.
https://twitter.com/khadickle/status/1079261045737295877?
Basically, Poulter was crowned ‘white boy of the month’, and maybe that level of thirst just isn’t something he feels comfortable with. It’s hard to know.
me tapping the screen waiting for the option to kiss colin to pop up #Bandersnatch pic.twitter.com/Xd9XXVrtc1
— ethan ?️?⃠ (@ethanisgroovy) December 28, 2018
But Twitter losing Will Poulter is actually a real shame, because the actor has been outspoken on progressive issues like Hollywood whitewashing, violent racism, white privilege and bullying – as you can see from a mere handful of his past tweets.
At least Will Poulter isn’t only outspoken online – so although Twitter is losing a valuable voice, he’s clearly consistent with speaking up and raising awareness.
https://twitter.com/nxggabi/status/1079533741414862848
Poulter is the latest of a fair few celebrities to publicly announce taking a step back from social media for their mental health. To name a few, Pete Davidson, Hailey Bieber(/Baldwin), and Star Wars’ Kelly Marie Tran, have all experienced trolls first-hand and spoken out on the damage online bullying can have on your mental health.
It’s a good reminder to be kind on the internet, and be kind to yourself by distancing from the internet and social platforms for self-care when needed.