Why Matt Smith Isn't A Fan Of Social Media

Don't expect to see Matt Smith tweeting anytime soon. Social media is a double-edged sword for celebrities. It helps them connect to their fans better, but it can also be a vehicle for them to receive undeserved scrutiny. It's why many folks on Tinseltown quit using social media, with a few not even bothering to make accounts in the first place.

In 2018, Pete Davidson notably deleted his Instagram account, saying that the "internet is an evil place and it doesn't make me feel good." Daisy Ridley of "Star Wars" fame shared the same sentiment, having quit Instagram in 2016 (she has since returned but is not very active). "It's not good for me, personally. I'm just not equipped for it," she told Glamour in a 2017 interview. And then there are celebrities like Scarlett Johansson who veer away from social media altogether because they don't feel like oversharing. "I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than have to continuously share details of my everyday life," the actor shared with Interview back in 2011. 

As fans, it may be kind of a letdown if you can't keep up with your favorite stars through social media, but Smith, star of "House of the Dragon," has a good reason as to why he's not chronically online like the rest of us.

Matt Smith is not the biggest proponent of social media because he prefers to communicate with people in real life. In a webchat with The Guardian in 2016, he admitted that he's weirded out by the ubiquity of social media these days. "We've started communicating with our thumbs. And I think people consider social media for far too much of their day," he said. "Look what we're doing now! This isn't normal. It's sunny. We should all be outside."

Another reason why Smith harbors disdain for social media is that people, especially the younger generation, have the tendency to seek validation through likes and followers. "It worries me that nowadays kids go home from school and socialize on Facebook. I think we create these surrogate versions of ourselves on Facebook, the celebrity versions with the best pictures, and the best comments, and the best friends," he told TechWeekEurope in 2013 (via Daily Dot), adding that while he's not discounting its value, it's not the right environment for him. "And that weird thing on Twitter, comparing follower numbers. It's like you're quantified by the number. Both Twitter and Facebook can be very useful and practical. I see their value, but it's just not for me."

Staying true to his "Doctor Who" roots, Matt Smith confessed to being a fan of swanky gadgets. He may not be a fan of social media, but he does love fancy new technology.

Speaking with The Next Web in 2013, he shared that he's the proud owner of an iPad, a Microsoft Surface tablet, a MacBook Air, a PC, and a Nokia phone. He also admitted that he already spends "enough time looking down at my phone," so he doesn't see the point of going on Twitter. "It just doesn't interest me," he said. "I don't care what anyone else is doing. I don't care what Lady Gaga is up to." And besides, he has other avenues to engage with fans, telling the outlet, "I go to ComicCon, I do these things, and you do enough events you engage with people, actual people."

On top of tablets, laptops, and phones, Smith also loves two other gadgets: his blender and his music player. "I use my smartphone a lot, own a laptop. Being an actor I read a lot of scripts, so I also use tablets. But I love my blender!" he shared with Silicon. "In the morning, I am lost without it. I put a little bit of a protein shake in there." He also said that he's a big fan of music, hence his obsession with his music player. "I love music, love travelling [sic] to music, moving around to music. But recently, the blender has been a big part of my life."