Tom Holland took to Instagram on Sunday to announce in a video that he will be taking a break from social media. In the video, he described his struggle with social media saying, “I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online and ultimately it’s very detrimental to my mental state. So, I decided to take a step back and delete the app.” He explained that he was sharing the post to let his fans know and to highlight the charity Stem4. The “Spiderman: No Way Home” star explained that the charity is an education program that pioneers apps to help young people experiencing mental health crises. “There is an awful stigma against mental health and I know that asking for help and seeking help isn’t something we should be ashamed of,” Holland added. He concluded his post saying to his fans, “I love you all and speak to you soon.”

The star received a lot of support for his post, including a comment from Justin Bieber saying, “Love you man.” Bieber, who came to stardom at a very young age, has also publicly shared his own mental health battles, including experiences with depression and his recent diagnosis with Ramsay Hunt disease, which causes facial paralysis. Like Bieber, Holland, 26, has experienced massive success at a young age, beginning with his debut as Spider-Man in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” 2021’s “No Way Home” smashed box office records and Holland also scored the leading role in the movie, “Uncharted,” which looks to become another franchise in addition to the actor’s popular “Spider-Man” films.

Mental health experts have been sounding the alarm over the increase in mental health issues in adults  and especially in people aged 13-18. The National Institutes of Health revealed that 1 in 3 adolescents suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders in teens and children increased 20% from 2007 to 2013 and suicide attempts and hospitalizations have doubled. Many professionals point to social media as one source of this increased anxiety in young people. A Psychology Today article discussed the various studies dealing with increased anxiety and social media usage. In particular, it brought up the issue of “FOMO” or “Fear of Missing Out.” With a system set up on “likes” and followers, people can begin to fixate on not getting enough likes or shares on their posts or missing out on the latest information from others. With greater access than ever to the sanitized versions of people’s supposed private lives, social comparison is inevitable. The ability to comment on people’s lives in a basically anonymous way emboldens others to speak out in ways they wouldn’t normally face-to-face. In addressing his mental health issues, a source noted that Justin Bieber would receive criticism from followers whenever he announced what types of medication he was taking or when he was going off one. According to the source, Bieber was in a “no-win situation.” With so many pressures, particularly to those with fame like Bieber and Holland, it seems a break may be the best medicine.