Demi Lovato says she chooses to lead with compassion when it comes to her online haters.
In an interview with People, the “Sorry Not Sorry” singer, 31, reflected on her relationship with social media and how it has improved over time. She shared that changing her perspective helped her deal with online vitriol.
“My relationship with social media has evolved over the years, from seeking validation on the Internet to not looking at Internet comments at all,” she explained to the outlet. “If I see something negative, it doesn't affect me like it used to.”
“And I don't know if it's just because of age or how many years I've been in the public eye, I just don't let it affect me like it used to. “He no longer has power over me like he used to,” Lovato added. “And that's really refreshing, and it's like I don't care what other people have to say about me.”
Demi Lovato on January 31, 2024
(Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert)
By being intentional about what she exposes herself to on social media, Lovato said she is able to keep her head on her shoulders. Her goal is usually to “stay positive” and she makes sure not to “dive into the comments section” so as not to expose herself to negativity.
The two-time Grammy nominee noted: “I understand that people who comment on bad things lack conscience or self-love and respect because anyone who navigates from a higher sense of good is not going to comment on anything. like that on someone's page.”
“And if you really love yourself, you don't focus on other people,” he continued. “So I also have compassion for the haters online.”
Lovato previously discussed her social media strategy while speaking at the opening of the Hollywood & Mind Summit on Thursday in May of last year. She pointed out to the audience that staying away from online negativity helps her manage her mental health issues, including the bipolar disorder she was diagnosed with when she was 18.
“I felt so relieved to finally have a diagnosis,” Lovato added. “I had spent so many years struggling, and I didn't know why I was a certain way when it came to dealing with depression at such extreme levels, when I seemingly had the world in front of me full of opportunities.”
She said avoiding comments on social media helps her protect her inner peace.
“If I see something negative, it will hurt my feelings, and if I see something positive, it will feed that external validation that I have worked so hard not to need, and that goes back to my son's star days. Needing external validation,” explained the musician. “So, I don't look at the comments because [they’re] You will either hurt me or feed that.”
The pop star has come a long way toward the self-acceptance she feels today, having struggled for years with substance abuse issues and bouts of eating disorders. Her recovery journey has been especially difficult due to the added public scrutiny, but she concluded that she decided to give herself grace amid the ups and downs.
