“I go on the internet to see the videos that I want to see, but then I get sucked in,” the singer said
Billie Eilish in 2024. Photo: Sarah Morris/WireImage
Billie Eilish is comparing social media use to another bad habit.
In an interview with Complex published on Thursday, Dec. 5, the “Birds of a Feather” singer spoke about her complicated relationship with social media — and why she likens it to smoking. Eilish, 22, said she’s “off that s–t” when asked about being on X (formerly Twitter). “And I went off Instagram and Tiktok a couple of months ago, which was awesome,” she revealed.
While on the road, however, Eilish said, “I really love to interact with the fans when I’m on tour,” and not being on social media makes that difficult. “I love seeing all the videos and all the angles. I love seeing how people are feeling and thinking about the show. If I think something looks different, I want to change it,” she explained.
Billie Eilish in 2024. Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
The singer continued, “So I go on the internet to see the videos that I want to see, but then I get sucked in.” And what’s when the “problem” starts. “Then I get all f—ed up, and I’m stuck. So I’ve been back on it, but I am trying to get off. It’s my cigarettes,” she shared. “It’s really a problem.”
When asked about the positives of her being on social media, such as hosting Q&A sessions on Instagram with fans, the “Bad Guy” singer said she does enjoy those interactions — for the most part. “Some of it’s awesome and I love it and I cherish it. But again, people make that kind of thing really hard. It’s sad to me. Some people ruin it for the rest of them.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Eilish has been open about her social media habits — or lack thereof — in the past. She previously spoke about her mixed feelings when it comes to opening up about her personal life on the various platforms during a conversation with British artist Stormzy for i-D in September 2021.
Billie Eilish in 2023. Nykieria Chaney/Getty
“I feel conflicted about it,” she said at the time. “I don’t always want to tell the world intimate details about my life, I don’t really want people to know everything about me, but at the same time, I want people to be able to feel seen and heard if they’ve experienced the same things I have.”
However, Eilish said, sometimes she wouldn’t want to talk about what she’s going through. “It’s a tough responsibility because it’s also not my responsibility. I don’t owe anyone anything.”
Previously, in 2020, the “Happier Than Ever” singer said she quit reading Instagram comments because they were “ruining” her life. “It’s way worse than it’s ever been right now,” she told the BBC, adding, “It’s weird: the cooler the things you get to do are the more people hate you. It’s crazy.”