George Clooney Has A Good Reason For Telling Young Actors To ‘Get The F—k Off’ Of Social Media

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Today, a celebrity’s popularity is often measured by their social media followers, and some believe traditional movie stars are a thing of the past. But George Clooney truly is a movie star. Unlike Tom Cruise, he avoids social media altogether, and actually advises young actors to do the same – and he makes a good point.

Okay, so I’m really excited about George Clooney’s new film, Jay Kelly, and it’s great to see him back in the awards race. I was listening to him on The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, and he dropped some interesting advice for actors. Basically, he tells anyone who asks him for career guidance to ditch social media. He feels like being on those platforms can actually hurt your chances of getting cast, because studios are starting to prioritize actors with huge followings over talent. It’s a crazy thought, but he makes a good point!

I regularly speak with young actors, often at events like those with SAG. They’re all very active on platforms like Instagram, and I’ve noticed this increasingly impacts casting decisions. When I was choosing between actors, the studio and casting director would often point to social media followings – like, ‘She has 175,000 followers, but the other has only 30,000.’ It was a real factor in the conversations. I always tell actors to disconnect from social media because if you’re not on those platforms, you’re at a disadvantage – there’s nothing for people to compare you to.

That’s a valid point, and it actually makes a lot of sense. If people still choose movies based on who’s in them, an actor’s social media following is a good way to measure their popularity – more followers generally means a more popular actor. Since studios are always looking for ways to ensure a movie succeeds, they’ll likely cast actors with large followings, even if it’s based on popularity rather than other factors.

Having a large social media following can help an actor become well-known, but it can also be a disadvantage if their numbers aren’t as high as other actors’. Interestingly, avoiding social media altogether can sometimes be beneficial, because it makes it harder to compare an actor’s popularity to others.

George Clooney is aware he might seem out of touch, but he believes there’s a downside to celebrities using social media. While it can be a significant income source for actors and fans enjoy feeling connected to stars, Clooney thinks staying off social media actually gives him an advantage. He explained further:

I understand the appeal of making money from opportunities like sponsorships or endorsements. But constantly having to address every question and request from fans or the public makes it harder to maintain a legendary status. It’s almost unavoidable, and I feel like I’m going against the grain trying to balance everything. Ultimately, I think it’s better to be more selective about how available you are.

I think George Clooney really still has it – that undeniable, old-Hollywood charm that’s so rare these days. It strikes me that part of what keeps him special is how private he is; he doesn’t flood social media with constant updates. Honestly, I think we could all benefit from taking a page from his book and embracing a little more mystery.

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2025-11-05 22:38