When Jennifer Aniston joined Instagram this week, it was a huge moment that rocked social media to its core. (Literally, she broke her IG account within minutes.) The 'Friends' star has long been a figure in celebrity tabloids, but now her fans are set to get a real glimpse of her personal life.
Senior culture reporter Leigh Blickley has been covering celebrities and entertainment for years. She has seen how obsessed people get with their favorite actors, singers and entertainers. In her piece this week, Blickley explores how celebs like Aniston are able to take back their personal narratives.
How did you get the idea for this piece? As I was watching the reactions to Jennifer Aniston joining Instagram, I got to thinking about my past career as a celebrity news writer. (I worked at Hollywood Life and OK! magazine before joining the former HuffPost Celebrity section in 2012, can you believe it?!) How crazy it is to think that I used to obsess over these gossip magazines and websites — looking out for breakup news or scandals or the wildest paparazzi photos every minute of every day. I now see things very differently and respect the privacy of public figures, especially when social media has led us to better understand the kind of scrutiny they face every day. It’s amazing, then, to consider that we can get a more honest look into the lives of Hollywood’s elite with one simple scroll on a phone. Yes, social media is a tricky subject, and it has its pros and cons. But it hit me how powerful it is that someone like Aniston, whose private life has been dissected by the press for two decades, can now share information about herself and content of her own choosing.
You’ve covered a lot of celebrities at HuffPost. What is it about celebrities’ lives that compels people to want to know every detail?
They’re talented. They’re beautiful. They seemingly live such glamorous lives. And they’re mysterious, right? Who doesn’t want to get a sneak peek into their worlds? That’s why celebrity news is so digestible. And I think Instagram, especially, has made it easier to imagine what a day in the life looks like for these stars. Sure, Kate Hudson or Dwayne Johnson, for example, are famous actors, but they also deal with the day-to-day of parenting and caring for a home and family. It brings back that motto of “They’re just like us!” That’s interesting when you remember what the celebrity news cycle was like 10 years ago.
A lot of celebrities step into controversies on social media — ahem, Gina Rodriguez. If you had to offer Jennifer Aniston some advice, what would it be?
Have fun with it, and don’t get too into the weeds. (Considering you don’t have a Twitter.) People want to see a glimpse into your life on Instagram, and want to feel like they understand what makes you tick a bit more. (No doubt they want to learn your beauty secrets, too. Hint, hint!)
Today’s culture around celebrity is so different than even 10 years ago. What do you think drives that?
The growth of technology, certainly, and the ability for celebrities to express their own feelings through social media. There are so many opportunities for them to talk about their careers, lives or controversies on their own, rather than be bombarded by press inquiries or paparazzi or TMZ reporters. There are podcasts, countless entertainment websites and video series. There’s no need to follow Perez Hilton or buy every salacious magazine to be up on the gossip anymore, especially when you can get your information directly from the source. The invasive tabloid culture is fading, and to that I say good riddance. | 
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