Emmy Rossum shares why she regularly takes breaks from social media

Emmy Rossum has opened up about her relationship with social media, admitting she sometimes spends too much time online before stepping back to protect her mental well-being.

The Shameless actress shared her thoughts during a recent interview with People, revealing that she intentionally limits her screen time whenever she feels the digital world is becoming overwhelming.

“I’m online in periods a lot, like too much, and then I have to go offline and I have to set limits,” Rossum said. “I’m thinking about getting a Brick. The algorithm is messing with my brain.”

The actress explained that finding balance has become increasingly important as everyday life grows more dependent on technology.

“Our life is so digital now that I think it’s important to go sit in Central Park and look at a tree,” she said, adding that she has a favourite bench where she spends time outdoors each day.

Rossum also believes excessive social media use can affect the way people view themselves, something she is especially conscious of as a mother.

The actress shares two children—a five-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son—with her husband, filmmaker Sam Esmail.

“I feel like they can read my mind sometimes,” Rossum said of her children, explaining that she tries to be mindful of her own inner dialogue because she wants them to develop healthy self-esteem.

She added that spending too much time online can encourage unhealthy comparisons.

“I think too much time online can cause us to be unkind to ourselves, through compare and despair,” Rossum said. 

“I think it’s important to talk to ourselves kindly, to be our own best friend.”

The actress said she hopes to model self-compassion for her children so they grow up treating themselves with kindness even when she is not around.

Away from social media, Rossum is preparing for the release of her new Hulu psychological crime drama Furious, which premieres on July 27.

In the series, she stars as FBI agent Alice Black, who investigates a calculating female serial killer. 

To prepare for the role, Rossum trained alongside former and current FBI agents as well as NYPD detectives.

She also praised the collaborative atmosphere on set, saying she felt a strong sense of female solidarity while working with executive producer Elizabeth Meriwether and co-star Quincy Tyler Bernstine.