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There's already a backlash against the Instagram star who 'quit social media'
Essena O'Neill / Instagram Essena O'Neill / Instagram / Instagram
YESTERDAY, AUSTRALIAN INSTAGRAM star Essena O’Neill took the internet by storm with her decision to quit social media altogether.
O’Neill quit Instagram and Tumblr and apparently deleted more than 2,000 images of herself. She edited the captions of some remaining “false photos” in an effort to expose the reality behind the photos.
The 18-year-old garnered praise from social media for her decision to come clean about the realities of being an Instagram star.
Just one day later, however, and a backlash is beginning to brew.
In a video, O’Neill revealed that she cannot pay rent and implored viewers to donate to her website Let’s Be Game Changers.
On her website, she asks people to “pay what it’s worth to you” and makes clear that she will not do “paid posts or advertisement for ANY brands” on her website.
Needless to say, it hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
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Other internet stars haven’t taken kindly to O’Neill’s message either with many of them accusing her of painting an unfair image of the social media industry.
YouTube star Acacia Brinley shared a strongly worded message to her 706,000 followers on Twitter.
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“She chose to edit her life and pretend it was perfect for love and appreciation,” she wrote. “I chose to be myself and get love from myself and family and friends.”
YouTuber Meghan McCarthy also crafted a response to the whole debacle.
Meghan McCarthy / YouTube Meghan McCarthy / YouTube / YouTube
Meanwhile, YouTube stars Nina and Randa have posted a video entitled “ESSENA O’NEILL Quitting Social Media is A HOAX” in which they accuse O’Neill of misrepresenting herself and her circumstances.
O’Neill took to her website to condemn people “spreading rumours” and encouraged people to use their voices for “good and positive change”.
In response, Nina and Randa posted the following comment.
For O’Neill’s part, she seems to be going full steam ahead with Let’s Be Game Changers, sharing videos about ethical clothing and veganism.
And she continues to receive support for her stance against social media.
Watch this space, we guess.
Previously: A teen Instagram star has quit the site to expose her ‘fake and forced’ beauty pics >
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