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Essena O'Neill's Anti-Social Media Stunt

Added 9 years ago / Updated about a month ago
Essennaaa

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ile: attention w---- png (707 KB, 725x842) She was spending 50 bours per week cutating her social media personawas miserable. Stuck, Uninspired. Angry O Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:42:37 No.6499605262649964408226499647642649964795 >649974458 93649976038 649979243 >Raid time Alright /b, so I don't know if you heard about this bitch (Essena Oneill), she is basically an "Instagram model" and finally decided to write down the real version of Sacial Media and hov making hers elf seemed as a "hero" but I say the opposite. I say she is an attention w----, she is promoting hers elf, she does drugs and supports racism She also created a website called www.letsbegamechangers.com. Go to "Forum" and start spamming. It has potential inb4 OP is a f----- No personal Army lelelelele xDDD Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:43:54 No.649960750 bump Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:32 No.649960861 File: 144518688 ng (672 KB, 584x553) >sage 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:44 No.649960896 THIS HAS POTENTIAL 52 Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45: 16 No.649960991 649961085 and supports racis m Source? Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45:52 No.649961085 6499 no source f-----. I made everything up 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:46:31 No.6499611982649972689 l f------ hate when people use >lel Autistic f----
essenaoneil FOLLOW 14.1k likes 99w essenaoneill Not real life. Only reason we went to the beach this morning was to shoot these bikinis because the company paid me and also I looked good to society's current standards. I was born and won the genetic lottery. Why else would I have uploaded this photo? Read between the lines, or ask yourself why does someone post a photo... What is the outcome for them? To make a change? Look hot? Sell something? I thought I was helping young girls get fit and healthy. But I only realised at 19 that placing any amount of self worth on your physical form is so limiting! I could have been writing, exploring, playing, anything beautiful and real... Not trying to validate my worth through a bikini shot with no substance #celebrity,construct view all 788 comments nikoleasolstad @gurosundal erebeccabjoerk les captionene hennes
9 essenaoneill FOLLOW 24.5k likes 75w essenaoneill Was paid $400 to post a dress. That's when I had maybe 150k followers, with half a million followers, I know of many online brands (with big budgets) that pay up to $2000 per post. Nothing is wrong with accepting brand deals. I Just think it should be known. This photo had no substance, it was not of ethical manufacturing (I was uneducated at the time). SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL is my point. Be aware what people promote, ask yourself, what's their intention behind the photo? vlew all 725 comments 下 r_sabina @devenr enjenjens ejessnudin $400..cray cray _edwardkwan @aimzmarissa this is the account I tagged u in article on fb tiffanyquach_ @kathyquach knowtheflowers ahhh. so aood. love what Add a comment
essenaoneill FOLLOW 28.2k likes 73w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -I didn't pay for the dress, took countless photos trying to look hot for Instagram, the formal made me feel incredibly alone. BEHIND THE IMAGE COMING SOON- www.letsbegamechangers.com view all 1,381 comments melanieflemanie @efolz22 Ok cool! xxblacklace @browniee 07 larvonnem Love ur honesty christinegoonan @niamhhartex meggsyyy 1 @cattyy are you following this chick? billie_plantl @tanayahwoodward read all of her captions omg sammydobbin @abbbeygraham check out this chicks account and she's edited all he
essenaoneill FOLLOW 19k likes 77w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -took over 100 in similar poses trying to make my stomach look good. Would have hardly eaten that day. Would have yelled at my little sister to keep taking them until I was somewhat proud of this. Yep so totally #goals view all 1,507 comments kalicolangeli @hannahebrown look at the pics of her body & read the captions celestesykes @maddypunton look at all her edited captions, gotta luv it lerkthebird @matildeschibstad hun er så the melbourne mum @lisaiane007 Add a comment.
Essena ONeill 23 hours ago I'm not going to watch two people i trusted with my personal life blatantly try to bash two people publicly online. Nina And Randa, this is nothing about my personal life. This is about me feeling the need to constantly perfect and edit my life online. I am so grateful for everyone in LA but the feeling of misery was internal and I do blame myself for that, no one else. Please my personal life doesn't deserve to be online. I've had these feelings about social media for ages and struggled with coming to grips with them. If this is me calling out paid posts and beach shoots? Guys I just want people to know my life was edited and not 'real. I want to use this spot light to talk about veganism, environmental awareness, body positivity.... why do you feel okay talking about my personal life to the world? This is about so much more than me Please this isn't right, you've twisted my words and I understand you may think this is 'right but it's so not the truth, or nearly what's really important. Show less Reply . 3072 Hide replies mybestfriendandi 23 hours ago +Essena ONeill if you quit social media, how are you viewing this video Reply , 476 lá
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Overview

Essena O'Neill's Anti-Social Media Stunt refers to former Australian model Essena O'Neill's public denouncement of social media for promoting false depictions of reality in late October 2015. While many praised O'Neill for her statements about unhealthy social media practices, others speculated that the stunt was a disingenuous viral marketing ploy meant to promote her new website.

Background

On October 31st, O'Neill launched the blog LetsBeGameChangers,[1] containing posts about the dangers of social media and a "Support Me" page for viewers to provide donations. The first post on the blog featured a Vimeo video in which O'Neill announces that she is "quitting social media" (shown below).

On November 2nd, O'Neill uploaded a video to YouTube titled "Why I Really am Quitting Social Media," in which she emotionally rants about how deceptive social media practices gave her low self esteem and other mental health issues (shown below). The YouTube channel was subsequently deleted.

[This video has been removed]

Meanwhile on Instagram, O'Neill removed 2,000 photos, renamed her feed to "Social Media Is Not Real Life" and changed the captions of several photos to various behind-the-scenes anecdotes (shown below). Within 48 hours, the Instagram page was deleted.

essenaoneill FOLLOW 19k likes 77w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -took over 100 in similar poses trying to make my stomach look good. Would have hardly eaten that day. Would have yelled at my little sister to keep taking them until I was somewhat proud of this. Yep so totally #goals view all 1,507 comments kalicolangeli @hannahebrown look at the pics of her body & read the captions celestesykes @maddypunton look at all her edited captions, gotta luv it lerkthebird @matildeschibstad hun er så the melbourne mum @lisaiane007 Add a comment.
essenaoneill FOLLOW 28.2k likes 73w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -I didn't pay for the dress, took countless photos trying to look hot for Instagram, the formal made me feel incredibly alone. BEHIND THE IMAGE COMING SOON- www.letsbegamechangers.com view all 1,381 comments melanieflemanie @efolz22 Ok cool! xxblacklace @browniee 07 larvonnem Love ur honesty christinegoonan @niamhhartex meggsyyy 1 @cattyy are you following this chick? billie_plantl @tanayahwoodward read all of her captions omg sammydobbin @abbbeygraham check out this chicks account and she's edited all he
9 essenaoneill FOLLOW 24.5k likes 75w essenaoneill Was paid $400 to post a dress. That's when I had maybe 150k followers, with half a million followers, I know of many online brands (with big budgets) that pay up to $2000 per post. Nothing is wrong with accepting brand deals. I Just think it should be known. This photo had no substance, it was not of ethical manufacturing (I was uneducated at the time). SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL is my point. Be aware what people promote, ask yourself, what's their intention behind the photo? vlew all 725 comments 下 r_sabina @devenr enjenjens ejessnudin $400..cray cray _edwardkwan @aimzmarissa this is the account I tagged u in article on fb tiffanyquach_ @kathyquach knowtheflowers ahhh. so aood. love what Add a comment
essenaoneil FOLLOW 14.1k likes 99w essenaoneill Not real life. Only reason we went to the beach this morning was to shoot these bikinis because the company paid me and also I looked good to society's current standards. I was born and won the genetic lottery. Why else would I have uploaded this photo? Read between the lines, or ask yourself why does someone post a photo... What is the outcome for them? To make a change? Look hot? Sell something? I thought I was helping young girls get fit and healthy. But I only realised at 19 that placing any amount of self worth on your physical form is so limiting! I could have been writing, exploring, playing, anything beautiful and real... Not trying to validate my worth through a bikini shot with no substance #celebrity,construct view all 788 comments nikoleasolstad @gurosundal erebeccabjoerk les captionene hennes

Notable Developments

Hoax Claims

On November 3rd, 2015, the NinaAndRanda YouTube channel uploaded a video titled "Essena O'Neill Quitting Social Media is a Hoax," in which two of O'Neill's friends from Los Angeles criticize her anti-social media stunt for being disingenuous and factually incorrect (shown below, left). Additionally, they claim O'Neill did not have any issues with social media prior to an emotional break up with her boyfriend. The same day, YouTuber Word From Willie uploaded a video refuting several of O'Neill's claims made in her videos (shown below, right).

[This video has been removed]

[This video has been removed]

O'Neill's Response

That day, O'Neill responded to NinaAndRanda's video, asking them to please refrain from talking about her "personal life" online (shown below).

Essena ONeill 23 hours ago I'm not going to watch two people i trusted with my personal life blatantly try to bash two people publicly online. Nina And Randa, this is nothing about my personal life. This is about me feeling the need to constantly perfect and edit my life online. I am so grateful for everyone in LA but the feeling of misery was internal and I do blame myself for that, no one else. Please my personal life doesn't deserve to be online. I've had these feelings about social media for ages and struggled with coming to grips with them. If this is me calling out paid posts and beach shoots? Guys I just want people to know my life was edited and not 'real. I want to use this spot light to talk about veganism, environmental awareness, body positivity.... why do you feel okay talking about my personal life to the world? This is about so much more than me Please this isn't right, you've twisted my words and I understand you may think this is 'right but it's so not the truth, or nearly what's really important. Show less Reply . 3072 Hide replies mybestfriendandi 23 hours ago +Essena ONeill if you quit social media, how are you viewing this video Reply , 476 lá

Meanwhile, O'Neill uploaded a video titled "Let's Talk About Something More Important Than Me, Please?" to Vimeo, in which she urges viewers to discuss things other than her personal life (shown below).

4chan Raid

Also on November 3rd, a 4chan user submitted a thread about O'Neill, referring to her as an "attention whore" and urging viewers to raid her website's forum. That day, her forum was temporarily shut down after being flooded with posts.[2]

ile: attention w---- png (707 KB, 725x842) She was spending 50 bours per week cutating her social media personawas miserable. Stuck, Uninspired. Angry O Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:42:37 No.6499605262649964408226499647642649964795 >649974458 93649976038 649979243 >Raid time Alright /b, so I don't know if you heard about this bitch (Essena Oneill), she is basically an "Instagram model" and finally decided to write down the real version of Sacial Media and hov making hers elf seemed as a "hero" but I say the opposite. I say she is an attention w----, she is promoting hers elf, she does drugs and supports racism She also created a website called www.letsbegamechangers.com. Go to "Forum" and start spamming. It has potential inb4 OP is a f----- No personal Army lelelelele xDDD Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:43:54 No.649960750 bump Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:32 No.649960861 File: 144518688 ng (672 KB, 584x553) >sage 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:44 No.649960896 THIS HAS POTENTIAL 52 Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45: 16 No.649960991 649961085 and supports racis m Source? Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45:52 No.649961085 6499 no source f-----. I made everything up 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:46:31 No.6499611982649972689 l f------ hate when people use >lel Autistic f----

News Media Coverage

In the coming days, several news sites published articles about the stunt, including The Guardian,[3] Time,[4] Today,[5] Elle[6] and BBC News.[7]

Search Interest

External References

[1] Let's Be Game Changers – Lets Be Game Changers

[2] Reddit – Essena Oneills website gets spammed

[3] The Guardian – Essena ONeill quits Instagram

[4] Time – Teen Instagram Star Speaks Out About The Ugly Truth Behind Social Media Fame

[5] Today – Instagram star quits social media

[6] Elle – What happens when you say what really goes into the perfect bikini selfie

[7] BBC News – Australia Instagram star Essena ONeill quits unhealthy social media

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Essena O'Neill's Anti-Social Media Stunt

Essena O'Neill's Anti-Social Media Stunt

Updated Nov 06, 2024 at 09:52AM EST by LiterallyAustin.

Added Nov 04, 2015 at 02:12PM EST by Don.

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Overview

Essena O'Neill's Anti-Social Media Stunt refers to former Australian model Essena O'Neill's public denouncement of social media for promoting false depictions of reality in late October 2015. While many praised O'Neill for her statements about unhealthy social media practices, others speculated that the stunt was a disingenuous viral marketing ploy meant to promote her new website.

Background

On October 31st, O'Neill launched the blog LetsBeGameChangers,[1] containing posts about the dangers of social media and a "Support Me" page for viewers to provide donations. The first post on the blog featured a Vimeo video in which O'Neill announces that she is "quitting social media" (shown below).



On November 2nd, O'Neill uploaded a video to YouTube titled "Why I Really am Quitting Social Media," in which she emotionally rants about how deceptive social media practices gave her low self esteem and other mental health issues (shown below). The YouTube channel was subsequently deleted.


[This video has been removed]


Meanwhile on Instagram, O'Neill removed 2,000 photos, renamed her feed to "Social Media Is Not Real Life" and changed the captions of several photos to various behind-the-scenes anecdotes (shown below). Within 48 hours, the Instagram page was deleted.


essenaoneill FOLLOW 19k likes 77w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -took over 100 in similar poses trying to make my stomach look good. Would have hardly eaten that day. Would have yelled at my little sister to keep taking them until I was somewhat proud of this. Yep so totally #goals view all 1,507 comments kalicolangeli @hannahebrown look at the pics of her body & read the captions celestesykes @maddypunton look at all her edited captions, gotta luv it lerkthebird @matildeschibstad hun er så the melbourne mum @lisaiane007 Add a comment. essenaoneill FOLLOW 28.2k likes 73w essenaoneill NOT REAL LIFE -I didn't pay for the dress, took countless photos trying to look hot for Instagram, the formal made me feel incredibly alone. BEHIND THE IMAGE COMING SOON- www.letsbegamechangers.com view all 1,381 comments melanieflemanie @efolz22 Ok cool! xxblacklace @browniee 07 larvonnem Love ur honesty christinegoonan @niamhhartex meggsyyy 1 @cattyy are you following this chick? billie_plantl @tanayahwoodward read all of her captions omg sammydobbin @abbbeygraham check out this chicks account and she's edited all he 9 essenaoneill FOLLOW 24.5k likes 75w essenaoneill Was paid $400 to post a dress. That's when I had maybe 150k followers, with half a million followers, I know of many online brands (with big budgets) that pay up to $2000 per post. Nothing is wrong with accepting brand deals. I Just think it should be known. This photo had no substance, it was not of ethical manufacturing (I was uneducated at the time). SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL is my point. Be aware what people promote, ask yourself, what's their intention behind the photo? vlew all 725 comments 下 r_sabina @devenr enjenjens ejessnudin $400..cray cray _edwardkwan @aimzmarissa this is the account I tagged u in article on fb tiffanyquach_ @kathyquach knowtheflowers ahhh. so aood. love what Add a comment essenaoneil FOLLOW 14.1k likes 99w essenaoneill Not real life. Only reason we went to the beach this morning was to shoot these bikinis because the company paid me and also I looked good to society's current standards. I was born and won the genetic lottery. Why else would I have uploaded this photo? Read between the lines, or ask yourself why does someone post a photo... What is the outcome for them? To make a change? Look hot? Sell something? I thought I was helping young girls get fit and healthy. But I only realised at 19 that placing any amount of self worth on your physical form is so limiting! I could have been writing, exploring, playing, anything beautiful and real... Not trying to validate my worth through a bikini shot with no substance #celebrity,construct view all 788 comments nikoleasolstad @gurosundal erebeccabjoerk les captionene hennes

Notable Developments

Hoax Claims

On November 3rd, 2015, the NinaAndRanda YouTube channel uploaded a video titled "Essena O'Neill Quitting Social Media is a Hoax," in which two of O'Neill's friends from Los Angeles criticize her anti-social media stunt for being disingenuous and factually incorrect (shown below, left). Additionally, they claim O'Neill did not have any issues with social media prior to an emotional break up with her boyfriend. The same day, YouTuber Word From Willie uploaded a video refuting several of O'Neill's claims made in her videos (shown below, right).


[This video has been removed]

[This video has been removed]


O'Neill's Response

That day, O'Neill responded to NinaAndRanda's video, asking them to please refrain from talking about her "personal life" online (shown below).


Essena ONeill 23 hours ago I'm not going to watch two people i trusted with my personal life blatantly try to bash two people publicly online. Nina And Randa, this is nothing about my personal life. This is about me feeling the need to constantly perfect and edit my life online. I am so grateful for everyone in LA but the feeling of misery was internal and I do blame myself for that, no one else. Please my personal life doesn't deserve to be online. I've had these feelings about social media for ages and struggled with coming to grips with them. If this is me calling out paid posts and beach shoots? Guys I just want people to know my life was edited and not 'real. I want to use this spot light to talk about veganism, environmental awareness, body positivity.... why do you feel okay talking about my personal life to the world? This is about so much more than me Please this isn't right, you've twisted my words and I understand you may think this is 'right but it's so not the truth, or nearly what's really important. Show less Reply . 3072 Hide replies mybestfriendandi 23 hours ago +Essena ONeill if you quit social media, how are you viewing this video Reply , 476 lá

Meanwhile, O'Neill uploaded a video titled "Let's Talk About Something More Important Than Me, Please?" to Vimeo, in which she urges viewers to discuss things other than her personal life (shown below).



4chan Raid

Also on November 3rd, a 4chan user submitted a thread about O'Neill, referring to her as an "attention whore" and urging viewers to raid her website's forum. That day, her forum was temporarily shut down after being flooded with posts.[2]


ile: attention w---- png (707 KB, 725x842) She was spending 50 bours per week cutating her social media personawas miserable. Stuck, Uninspired. Angry O Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:42:37 No.6499605262649964408226499647642649964795 >649974458 93649976038 649979243 >Raid time Alright /b, so I don't know if you heard about this bitch (Essena Oneill), she is basically an "Instagram model" and finally decided to write down the real version of Sacial Media and hov making hers elf seemed as a "hero" but I say the opposite. I say she is an attention w----, she is promoting hers elf, she does drugs and supports racism She also created a website called www.letsbegamechangers.com. Go to "Forum" and start spamming. It has potential inb4 OP is a f----- No personal Army lelelelele xDDD Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:43:54 No.649960750 bump Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:32 No.649960861 File: 144518688 ng (672 KB, 584x553) >sage 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:44:44 No.649960896 THIS HAS POTENTIAL 52 Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45: 16 No.649960991 649961085 and supports racis m Source? Anonymous 1103/15(Tue)21:45:52 No.649961085 6499 no source f-----. I made everything up 52 Anonymous 11/03/15(Tue)21:46:31 No.6499611982649972689 l f------ hate when people use >lel Autistic f----

News Media Coverage

In the coming days, several news sites published articles about the stunt, including The Guardian,[3] Time,[4] Today,[5] Elle[6] and BBC News.[7]

Search Interest

External References

[1] Let's Be Game Changers – Lets Be Game Changers

[2] Reddit – Essena Oneills website gets spammed

[3] The Guardian – Essena ONeill quits Instagram

[4] Time – Teen Instagram Star Speaks Out About The Ugly Truth Behind Social Media Fame

[5] Today – Instagram star quits social media

[6] Elle – What happens when you say what really goes into the perfect bikini selfie

[7] BBC News – Australia Instagram star Essena ONeill quits unhealthy social media

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Panuru

>O’Neill announces that she is “quitting social media”
>featured a Vimeo video
>uploaded a video to YouTube
>Meanwhile on Instagram
>O’Neill responded to NinaAndRanda’s video
>Meanwhile, O’Neill uploaded a video

Yeah, I quit smoking cigarettes! Just one pack per day now!

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