Tamil actor Sivakarthikeyan, basking in the success of his new movie ‘Amaran’, recently shared his insights on the impact of social media on mental health and career at the 2024 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The actor revealed how he has been intentionally limiting his social media usage, particularly on platforms like Twitter, for over two years. He believes that this digital detox has significantly improved his mental clarity and decision-making abilities.
In a chat session with IANS at the event, Sivakarthikeyan revealed that he had been maintaining a distance from social media, especially X (formerly Twitter) for over two years and it has helped him improve his career. Sivakarthikeyan said, “In the last two years, I’ve been using social media very less. If you want to use it, you use the internet. This is my kind advice, but don’t use much social media, especially Twitter. Maybe, I think Elon Musk might block my account, that will be the first success I think for me.”
Why this ‘Big No’ to social media
Sivakarthikeyan explained that constant exposure to social media can lead to unnecessary stress and self-doubt, especially when facing negative feedback or criticism. By distancing himself from these distractions, he has been able to focus on his craft and make more informed choices about his projects. “I feel like if we come out of X, I have a very free mind space because no one is feeding their thoughts into my mind. When something goes wrong in my film, usually when we find one film flops or when one of our work doesn’t go well, we will get confused and we will try to find where the answer is. At that time, I used to search my answers in social media and I was confused. I did different kinds of films without understanding what the film is, everything happened. Then suddenly one day I realized how it works, stick to the basics,” he said.
He drew a parallel between his approach to filmmaking and the strategies used by cricketers to overcome slumps. Just as cricketers often return to the basics to regain form, Sivakarthikeyan emphasizes the importance of sticking to fundamental principles in the film industry.
When acting helped him fight depression
Furthermore, the actor shared a personal anecdote about how the stage became a source of healing and solace during a difficult period in his life. Following the loss of his father during his college years, he found solace in performing and receiving the audience’s appreciation. This experience underscored the power of live performance and the positive impact it can have on mental well-being. “I was depressed. I didn’t know what to do. To escape from the depression, from that sadness, I got onto the stage where clapping and appreciation was the therapy,” he said.
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