In a candid revelation, actor Sangeetha Bhat has opened up about her decision to step away from social media platforms, describing the environment as 'too toxic' and admitting she felt enslaved by the constant need to perform online.
The Breaking Point: From Living Moments to Documenting Them
Sangeetha explained that the relentless pressure to document every experience, rather than simply living it, became a heavy burden. The actor stated that the compulsive cycle of scrolling had infiltrated every part of her day, from the moment she woke up until right before sleep. She even found herself 'doom scrolling' while watching other content on screen, a habit that ultimately overwhelmed her.
'I just deactivated. Now, I feel really light after doing it,' Sangeetha shared. She acknowledged that muscle memory still prompts her to reach for the Instagram app, but with her accounts deactivated, she cannot access them unless she consciously reactivates.
Reclaiming Time and Focus
The impact of her digital detox has been profoundly positive. Sangeetha Bhat reported a significant boost in her productivity and activity levels since disconnecting. 'After deactivating social media, I am doing more work. I am more active than before,' she said. She described social media as something that used to consume her entirely, and taking a break has allowed her to 'breathe again.'
Talent vs. Followers: An Industry Critique
Beyond personal fatigue, Sangeetha pointed to a deeper, systemic issue within the entertainment industry: the growing perception that an actor's value is tied to their social media following. She challenged this notion head-on.
'If people truly believe in talent and appreciate it, they will find you,' she asserted. She believes an actor is discovered through their 'film footprint' and the body of work they leave behind, not their online popularity.
Commenting on the modern casting trend that often prioritizes follower count over skill, Sangeetha offered a stark reality check. 'Even if you have one million followers, those one million people are not going to come and watch your film,' she noted. Audiences, she argued, are drawn by a watchable film and consumable content, factors unrelated to an actor's online metrics.
While she acknowledged that social media holds legitimate relevance for influencers and brand growth, she insists the measure for actors must be different. 'Unless you have the talent, the skill, and the experience to do justice to a character, nothing else matters,' Sangeetha concluded, reaffirming her belief in the primacy of craft in cinema.
